The impact of epidemics, climate change, and natural resource depletion have led to a better understanding of potential threats, enormous consequences and risks. long-term related health and environmental problems. This has attracted the keen attention of management levels to green economic growth strategies, ensuring a balance between economic development activities and environmental protection.

Model of hydroponic vegetable cultivation in Hoa Phat Ward, Cam Le District. Photo: P.V

With the determination to transform into a green economy, Da Nang has responded to the "National Strategy on Green Growth 2011-2020 and Vision to 2050", and "National Action Plan on Green Growth for period 2014-2020", starting to develop a plan and implement the application of green growth in the city.

According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and some green economic growth assessment criteria of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), green economic growth includes 5 below-mentioned main contents.

Sustainable waste management

In parallel with the economic growth, the amount of solid waste in Da Nang has constantly increased in the period 2016-2020 with an average increase of 15-16%. According to a study by the Loop project into plastic waste in Da Nang, plastic waste in the city is lost to the environment by 6,752 tons ( equivalent to 8%), mainly due to indiscriminate littering. Besides, there have been about 1,568 tons of plastic waste have been not collected on an annual basis.

The resolution on the management of domestic solid waste until 2025 has been issued by the Da Nang People's Council of Da Nang City. Also, many international projects related to environmental protection have also been signed.

Classifying waste at its source, investing in the construction of a waste treatment plant, and waste collection vehicles have helped Da Nang to enhance the efficiency of resources, recover clean energy, and promote the export of recycled plastic products. In general, Da Nang has been assessed relatively well in terms of solid waste management capacity with a score of 86/100 according to the set of indicators proposed by CCBO and achieved a 100% of domestic solid waste collection rate according to the report of the national environment 2019.

Public green transport

A new trend of public green transport has played a crucial role in the development of green economic growth models. This new breeze is being received and actively supported in Da Nang with the aim of helping people switch to using public transport instead of using personal transport to reduce traffic congestion and emission.

The projects of bus, shared ride, and public bicycle service stations are being implemented, piloted and replicated. The plan to organize the Green Traffic Festival in Da Nang has been developed by the Department of Transport to promote propaganda about the community's awareness and responsibility when participating in traffic.

However, the approach to green urban transport planning still has many limitations such as the lack of strategic vision, little identity in solutions and planning design, lack of focus on different types of environment-friendly traffic vehicles, and incompatible infrastructure systems.

Green industry development

Facing the impact of industrial production on the environment, Da Nang has focused on the development of green, environmental-friendly industries and chooses high-tech industrial sectors that have low emissions and efficient use of natural resources.

The project on developing industrial clusters in districts by 2030 has promoted these clusters to develop in depth in a synchronous and modern manner, combined with ecological environment protection, ensuring sustainable development in the direction of green growth.

The industrial clusters of Non Nuoc stone handicraft villages, and Hoa Son aslar masonry villages are oriented to develop in association with tourism to spread local cultural values to international friends. In addition, the “Million tree in cities” Program of GreenViet Center has contributed to creating "green walls" for industrial parks, bringing a fresh ecological landscape, and attracting many foreign investors.

Integrated water resources management and conservation

Da Nang uses water resources mainly from Cau Do, downstream of Vu Gia river, and Cu De river to serve the purposes of agricultural production, industry and daily life. However, saline intrusion in the dry season, urbanization and hydropower development have significantly affected the water quality in these rivers.

To manage water resources in general, Da Nang has implemented the planning of the water supply and drainage system, aiming to perfect the planning of irrigation systems for agriculture, and improve the quality of surface water in the area.

Moreover, to stabilize groundwater reserves, Da Nang has limited the exploitation of underground water resources, built a water resource monitoring network, encouraged afforestation, ensured the balance of aquatic ecosystems, and contributed to promoting the process of water reuse, conserving inherent water resources and indirectly create a driving force for green economic growth.

Green agriculture associated with green production and ecotourism

The growing demand for clean, organic foods has prompted Da Nang to make improvements in agricultural production to serve the community. Many rural areas such as Tuy Loan and Hoa Vang have been trained and guided in agricultural production processes to ensure Vietgap standards and practical application in safe agricultural production.

Da Nang has implemented a plan to develop eco-cultural tourism in Hoa Vang district in combination with the model of "no-trash village" and villages planting clean vegetables; tourism routes combined with visiting agricultural models in Hoa Ninh, Hoa Phu and Ba Na. However, there has not been a really unique model linking ecotourism with green agriculture due to the limitations of tourism infrastructure and small typical agricultural products.

Green and sustainable growth solutions

To achieve the goals of green and sustainable growth, Da Nang needs to synchronously implement the following solutions.

Firstly, it is necessary to put into operation a solid waste treatment system applying advanced and environmentally friendly technologies to upgrade the recycling process; to have a plan to invest in Khanh Son landfill into a solid waste treatment complex; to implement rational planning of modern waste transfer stations; to effectively apply market principles to waste segregation for reuse and recycling.

Secondly, actively research, forecast and develop a long-term strategy for public green transport development planning. Also, there is a need of having an orientation to use clean vehicles and fuels to minimize negative impacts on the environment

Thirdly, Da Nang needs to invest in the development of high-tech fields using raw materials and clean energy in a synchronous and modern direction, creating environmentally friendly products; to have plans to form sustainable eco-industrial models from the gradual transformation of current industrial zones; to continue greening industrial parks with carefully selected green trees to reduce emissions and dust.

Fourthly, the city has to actively invest in upgrading and renovating wastewater treatment systems in existing industrial parks, proactively propaganda to raise people's awareness about the crucial role of water resources and rational use of this resource for maintaining ecological balance and mitigating climate change.

Fifthly, changing the thinking of agricultural production to an agricultural economy, implementing the planning and forming agricultural areas to develop in the direction of applying high technology and saving input materials; replicating organic agricultural models with key local products of good quality and high added value to serve domestic consumption and export; continuing to support people to master clean production processes; supporting export procedures through traceability and product quality with international trading partners.

Reporting by Dr LE BAO - Dr NGUYEN HUU NGUYEN XUAN - NGUYEN THE PHU (the University of Economics – the University of Da Nang)
Translating by T.VY