Assessment of the current situation and proposed solutions to mitigate the impacts of open burning in Vietnam

On November 21 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE), in partnership with the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) and the UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), hosted the final workshop for a project titled "Assessment of the current situation and proposed solutions to mitigate the impacts of open burning and the use of agricultural chemicals on climate change, human health, and biodiversity in Vietnam”.

Overview of the Workshop

The workshop was co-chaired by Nguyen Ngoc Sinh, President of VACNE; Prof. Dr. Sc. Pham Ngoc Dang, Vice President of VACNE; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Chi Sy, Vice President of VACNE and Project Director. The event welcomed participants from international organizations, including the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and Vietnam’s Department of Pollution Control under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, along with leading environmental scientists and experts.

The project, jointly implemented by VACNE, DEFRA, and GAHP, spans a three-year period from 2022 to 2025.

In her remarks, Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Pollution Control, highlighted that environmental pollution is a critical global challenge, severely impacting ecosystems and public health. She emphasized Vietnam's strong commitment to combating climate change, referencing the pledge by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at COP26 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. “This commitment reflects Vietnam’s determination and responsibility towards the global community,” she noted.

Within this framework, the UK’s Environmental Pollution Reduction Program, particularly the project focused on reducing open burning and pesticide use in Vietnam’s agricultural sector, holds considerable importance. It addresses key pollution challenges that affect climate change, public health, and biodiversity in Vietnam and beyond.

According to Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong, the project’s outcomes are pivotal in shaping policies and regulations for air quality management. They also align with the environmental targets of the National Target Program for New Rural Development and the National Program for Sustainable Development, which aims to establish one million hectares of low-emission, high-quality rice cultivation linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030.

Providing further insights, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Chi Sy shared that since its commencement in July 2022, the project has engaged 25 organizations, including universities and research institutes, with the participation of over 100 scientists and experts, 57% of whom are women. The project has also involved 17 provinces and cities across Vietnam.

Key achievements include the development and calibration of two methodologies for remote sensing and GIS data analysis, which have been used to map and detect open burning in agricultural activities. These tools enable the monitoring of straw burning across crop cycles and regions, with successful applications in the Red River and Mekong River Deltas. Additionally, the project has completed four studies and developed scenarios on the health impacts of air pollution caused by open burning.

Surveys conducted across 17 provinces, representing six economic regions, revealed a contradiction in awareness and behavior. While 68% of respondents expressed environmental awareness and 80% acknowledged health concerns, many still intended to continue "field burning." Common reasons cited included perceptions of the practice being effective, quick, and affordable, as well as enjoyment of the activity or its associated scent. These findings underscore the need for culturally and socially sensitive communication strategies to drive behavioral change. Furthermore, 78.6% of respondents admitted to not having received sufficient or effective information about open burning in agriculture”…

Drawing from survey insights on public awareness, the project implemented a range of targeted communication activities. Notably, the “Green Creativity – Living Clean” competition attracted enthusiastic participation from students, fostering greater community awareness and encouraging shifts in behavior to reduce open burning practices. These efforts have contributed significantly to promoting sustainable agricultural development in Vietnam…

Prof. Dr. Sc. Pham Ngoc Dang, Vice President of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE), highlighted the project’s achievements in building a robust knowledge base on the open burning of agricultural waste and pesticide use, as well as their detrimental effects on human health and the environment. The project has also identified and evaluated alternative, sustainable, and eco-friendly solutions while prioritizing educational initiatives to raise awareness among key groups about the negative impacts of these practices.

In addition to its educational focus, the project has proposed policy recommendations to mitigate the harmful effects of open burning and pesticide use. It also explored opportunities for scaling these solutions beyond Vietnam, extending their applicability to countries with similar conditions.

Maria Paola Lia, Executive Director of the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), underscored the critical need for financial support and innovative approaches to help farmers boost their income, thereby motivating them to adopt sustainable agricultural methods. She praised VACNE for spearheading initiatives that inspire creativity and engage younger generations in developing innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture.