The circular economy has demonstrated great potential in promoting sustainable development and addressing environmental issues. The reporter from Agriculture and Environment Magazine had an interview with Japanese solid waste expert - Hideki Wada.

As plastic pollution emerges as one of the most pressing global environmental challenges, Vietnam has taken proactive steps to establish multistakeholder cooperation mechanisms, promote transparent data, mobilize financial resources, and actively engage in the negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty. The sixth meeting of the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Working Group, co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, UNDP, and the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Hanoi (9-10 July 2025), reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment not only to act domestically but also to stand with the international community in building a circular and sustainable economy.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is finalizing the draft National Action Plan on Air Pollution Control and Air Quality Management for 2025-2030, to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. More than a technical document, this initiative marks a necessary step for the country to proactively address complex environmental risks and affirms Vietnam’s long-term vision and strong commitment to safeguarding air quality, a critical factor in public health and national development.

In the context of increasingly extreme and unpredictable climate change, natural disasters are not only occurring more frequently but are also accompanied by unprecedented risk combinations. Vietnam - one of the countries most severely affected - is facing an urgent need to comprehensively modernize its forecasting, warning, and disaster response systems. On the sidelines of the implementation conference for Resolution 57-NQ/TW in Bac Ninh in May 2025, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), shared an in-depth interview with our reporter about breakthroughs in artificial intelligence applications, high-resolution forecasting models, and the vision to build a comprehensive early warning ecosystem that delivers “the right information to the right people at the right time in the right way.”

More than 1,000 delegates gathered on June 1 at the 30 October Square in Ha Long city (Quang Ninh province) to attend a ceremony celebrating World Environment Day and launching the 2025 Month of Action for the environment. Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) in coordination with the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, this year’s event carried the theme “Beat plastic pollution”, sending an urgent global message and spreading the spirit of “green living, green action” across the country.

In the wake of the devastating natural disasters that struck Northern Vietnam in September 2024, including Typhoon Yagi, which resulted in 345 fatalities and missing persons, nearly 2,000 injuries, and damages exceeding VND 81.8 trillion, the 13th Vietnam-Japan disaster management collaboration dialouge workshop held on May 13, 2025, in Ha Nam came at a critical time. The event, jointly organized by Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), marked another milestone in the long-standing partnership between the two nations in disaster risk reduction.

As part of the 2025 national disaster prevention and control week, a workshop themed “Science and technology applications in flood risk management in Vietnam” was held in Phu Ly city, Ha Nam province. The event served as a vital platform for government agencies, experts, research institutes, and international organizations to exchange experiences and introduce cutting-edge technological models to effectively address the growing complexity of flooding caused by climate change.

On April 10, 2025, in Thuy Xuan commune, Thai Binh province, the Centre for Natural Resources and Environment Communication (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), the Thai Binh provincial government, and Airbus Vietnam held a tree planting ceremony as part of the “Airbus in Action with the One Billion Trees Campaign”. The event supports a national initiative to plant one billion trees and advances Vietnam’s COP26 commitment to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2050.

On February 26, a new initiative aimed at tackling plastic pollution in Vietnam has been launched under a regional program by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). With a total of $240,000 in grant funding, the program seeks to support innovative solutions that reduce plastic waste and improve recycling systems.

One of the key objectives of the “Mitigating marine plastic debris in Vietnam” project is to promote behavioral and awareness changes regarding plastic use in order to protect the environment and preserve the blue ocean. These efforts target individuals, organizations, and coastal communities. As a result, the communication activities conducted by WWF-Vietnam and the Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands (VASI under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) are tailored to specific groups, including businesses, commercial establishments, schools, and coastal community residents.

Throughout the journey of the "Mitigating marine plastic debris in Vietnam" project in Vietnam, the WWF has undertaken numerous activities, supporting and collaborating with the Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands (VASI under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) in research, strategy development, and communication planning aimed at changing behaviors and raising environmental awareness in various coastal localities. These activities were integrated with meaningful and practical content, encouraging active participation and playing a significant role in raising awareness and promoting plastic reduction behaviors within the community. These efforts have contributed to the sustainable protection of the Blue Ocean, with the journey yielding several notable results.

The implementation of models on plastic smart cities program in Vietnam has demonstrated significant value in raising public awareness and disseminating environmental protection information, especially in a context where environmental consciousness remains limited. These pilot models have yielded positive outcomes, contributing to the reduction of both organic and plastic waste while enhancing community awareness of environmental issues. The most notable achievement of these models lies in their potential to transform public perceptions and behaviors regarding waste management. However, sustaining and scaling up these initiatives will require robust support from local authorities and active community participation.

A thick layer of ice and snow has covered the summit of Fansipan, Vietnam’s highest peak, as temperatures plummeted to -3°C (26.6°F) early on January 5, according to the Sun World Fansipan Legend Tourist Area Management Board in Sa Pa.

The Urban Plastic Reduction program, a global initiative involving 42 cities worldwide, has gained momentum in Vietnam, with nine cities committing to action plans and actively implementing them. This is a significant effort by the program in Vietnam. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), along with the Government of Vietnam, recognizes the support and collaboration of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in aiding the government and local communities across the nation to achieve these initial outcomes.

The COP29 Summit has concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan, leaving a significant mark with a series of historic agreements aimed at addressing the global climate crisis. From notable financial commitments and the launch of a global carbon credit market to Vietnam’s strategic advancements, COP29 has become a pivotal milestone in the journey toward a sustainable future.

As part of the COP29 Conference in Azerbaijan, Japan hosted the 10th high-level meeting of Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) partner countries, with participation from its partner nations.

On November 11, COP29—the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)—opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, drawing over 51,000 delegates from around the world. Vietnam’s delegation includes representatives from multiple ministries, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, along with various agencies, local governments, and businesses actively working toward Vietnam’s climate commitments. The event comes amid forecasts of record-breaking global temperatures in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for stronger climate action.