Raising awareness of environmental protection
According to the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee Office, Phong Du Ha is a mountainous commune of Lao Cai province. Previously, environmental protection work in the commune had many limitations. littering still occurs in some residential areas; household waste has not been classified and thoroughly collected; many households also burn garbage spontaneously, causing dust and smoke, air pollution, affecting the landscape and quality of the living environment.
These shortcomings not only directly affect people's lives but also pose an urgent need to raise awareness and change community behavior, especially in rural and mountainous areas.
From that reality, the Women's Union of Phong Du Ha commune has proactively advised local Party committees and authorities, and closely coordinated with departments, branches and organizations to implement many practical activities to raise awareness of environmental protection among the people.
The focus of the activities is to propagate and mobilize women's union members to change their awareness, gradually forming environmentally friendly living habits.
Through branch activities, communication and mobilization sessions in the community, the Women's Union of the commune has contributed to raising people's awareness of the harmful effects of environmental pollution, encouraging the implementation of specific acts such as not littering, limiting garbage burning, maintaining environmental hygiene around houses and residential areas.
Mr. Do Van Thanh - Chairman of Phong Du Ha Commune People's Committee - said that to meet environmental criteria in new rural construction, the participation of women's union members plays a very important role. When women change their awareness and behavior, that change will spread strongly in family life, directly affecting the living habits of members, thereby creating a positive effect in the community.
Therefore, in the coming time, the commune will continue to direct sectors, unions, and the Fatherland Front to closely coordinate with the Women's Union to maintain and replicate effective models and activities in environmental protection, contributing to improving the quality of the living environment, towards building sustainable new rural areas.
From the story in Phong Du Ha, it can be seen that environmental protection is not only the task of an organization or a level of government, but is a common responsibility of the entire political system and the whole society.
In the current context, environmental issues are posing increasingly major challenges to the development of localities, including Lao Cai province.
According to the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee Office, climate change, environmental degradation and resource depletion are becoming global challenges, strongly affecting all areas of economic and social life.
Extreme weather phenomena, unusual natural disasters, and natural resource depletion not only affect production and livelihoods of people but also threaten long-term sustainable development goals.
Following the Central Government's policy, on May 8, 2025, the Government issued Resolution No. 122/NQ-CP on the plan to implement Conclusion No. 81-KL/TW dated June 4, 2024 of the Politburo, continuing to promote the implementation of Resolution No. 7 of the 11th Central Committee on proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection. This is an important strategic orientation of the Party and State, demonstrating a long-term vision in environmental protection, adaptation to climate change and green economic development.
On that basis, the People's Committee of Lao Cai province issued a Plan to implement Resolution No. 122/NQ-CP, to specify the goals, tasks and solutions in accordance with the practical conditions of the locality. The plan clearly demonstrates the political determination and specific actions of the province in implementing the Central Government's policies.
The general goal of the plan is to improve the capacity to adapt to climate change; effectively use and save resources; prevent, control and overcome environmental pollution; preserve nature and biodiversity; promote green growth, circular economy; ensure harmony between economic development, social stability and ecological environmental protection.
By 2030, the goals are specified by many clear targets: more than 80% of households in disaster-prone areas have safe housing; 100% of industrial parks have centralized wastewater treatment systems that meet standards; 95% of urban solid waste and 90% of rural solid waste are collected and treated in accordance with regulations; 98% of rural households use hygienic water; forest cover area remains stable at 60%; 100% of conservation areas are assessed for management efficiency.
These indicators are not only qualitative, but also demonstrate Lao Cai province's political commitment to placing people and the environment at the center of sustainable development.
Identifying environmental protection as a pillar in development
To realize the set goals, Lao Cai determined that it is necessary to first create high unity in the awareness and actions of the entire political system. Propaganda, education and mobilization work has been widely implemented to raise awareness and responsibility of people, businesses and communities in environmental protection, resource-saving use and proactive adaptation to climate change.
Movements such as "Green Sunday", " plastic waste-free agency", "Green school - environmentally friendly students", "Green, clean, beautiful village" are maintained and replicated, contributing to the formation of a civilized, environmentally friendly lifestyle. Press agencies, socio-political organizations, and mass organizations promote their role in propagating, criticizing, supervising, and creating clear changes from awareness to action in the whole society.
In parallel with propaganda work, the province focuses on perfecting mechanisms and policies, enhancing the effectiveness of state management of natural resources and the environment. Socio-economic development plans and plans are integrated with the goal of responding to climate change and protecting the environment.
Inspection, examination and handling of violations have been tightened, especially in the fields of mineral exploitation, land use, water and industrial waste discharge. The province is determined to handle acts of environmental pollution, deforestation, and illegal exploitation, while publicizing information, improving transparency and accountability of management agencies.
In the economic field, Lao Cai considers green development, energy transition and circular economy as inevitable directions. The province encourages businesses to innovate technology, invest in clean production, use energy economically, and develop renewable energy sources. Along with that, the province promotes green financial instruments to mobilize social resources for environmental protection activities.
In natural resource management, Lao Cai focuses on the principles of reasonable exploitation, long-term use and protection. Environmental protection is identified as a pillar in development, with investment in waste collection and treatment infrastructure, encouraging waste classification at source and strengthening control of sources of pollution.
practical implementation shows many positive changes: the rate of waste collection and treatment increases every year; forests are better protected; community awareness in environmental protection is gradually raised. However, the province's resource management and environmental protection work still faces difficulties such as local pollution, illegal mineral exploitation, and limited rural waste treatment infrastructure.
Entering the new period, Lao Cai aims to become a green developing province, with a low-emission economy, environmentally friendly society, and people living in harmony with nature by 2050.
