Deputy Minister Bui Cach Tuyen said growth in the Southeast Asian region is mainly based on exploiting natural resources, which increases socio-economic and environmental challenges.
Vietnam, in particular, has to face issues regrding rising environmental pollution and biodiversity declination, he said.
Ashok Khosla, Co-Chair of the IRP, said humankind is facing serious problems due to the consequences of overexploitation and ineffective use of natural resources such as land, water, food and energy.
He hailed the Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for its commitments to seeking measures to deal with environment challenges in the country.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is an active member of the IRP which is responsible for seeking solutions to elimating poverty, job generation, and economic development in line with effective and sustainable utilisation and management of natural resources.
The conference, which is scheduled to run until May 29, will discuss global environmental issues such as green growth, the ecological system, land and food. Several initiatives and solutions pertaining to marine resources – an issue of great concern in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, have been put forward at the event.
