Sweden’s Ambassador to Vietnam discusses environmental challenges and solutions during Vietnam Water Week

I believe the majority of Vietnamese today have safety issues on their mind, in the main areas of water, food and air. I have travelled extensively in this country, and though most have a better life than they did a few years or a generation ago, there is a question in regard to sustainability. Will this development be sustainable? The government realises this, and is taking appropriate action. But there is also the question of the country’s regulatory framework: how will it tackle environmental issues?

Today, the increasing natural disasters are being blamed on climate change. How will people respond to what we have created ourselves?  For this, there is a question of access to information. A big part of the challenge is just getting the knowledge out and ensuring it reaches people and communities. One answer could be direct dialogue. How will the government respond and how can we use that knowledge to take action?

Rivers are the lifeblood of Vietnam, and the Mekong and other deltas will face ever increasing pressures due to development and climate change. We are already seeing the impacts of these pressures. The Mekong Delta, for example, has seen an increase in saltwater intrusion due to sea level rise, reduced river flows and shrimp farming. The question of water – too much, or lack of it, and how it is used – is vital.

We need to build campaigns on consumer behaviour and taking individual responsibility. Initiatives for consumer responsibility are important. For example, plastic waste is a big issue in the country, yet there is very little debate on it.

Sweden has been active in Vietnam since 1969, and has had a very large aid programme. That programme now focuses mainly on a more equitable partnership approach. Frankly, we are here partly to promote economic development for Sweden – and we want to share that model with our Vietnamese counterparts.

Vietnam, however, has also been very impressive in its approach to multi-lateral forums and programmes. Government, universities and organizations here work closely with organizations like SEI on seminars and events that often stand behind the Swedish example.

The bilateral aid program has now come to an end, and we currently don’t have the funding for an extensive regional approach from a Vietnamese perspective, but I feel this is the way to go. Vietnam can reach out and work more with its neighbors. Mekong region countries are interlinked and they need to work together. The majority of Vietnam’s water, for example, comes from other countries. It would be great if we encourage regional approaches to some of these environmental challenges.

In addition, Swedish businesses such as H&M and IKEA are continuing to work on long-term sustainable solutions. IKEA is responsible for 110,000 jobs in Vietnam, and it also sources its outdoor furniture here, while ensuring its work is socially and environmentally responsible. The private sector can play a large role in encouraging good stewardship of natural resources, and CSR (corporate social responsibility) is important.

Sweden has been a long-term partner in Vietnam and we hope to continue to play a role in ensuring that its water, land and air is well-managed so that its current growth is green and sustainable. We look toward strengthening our already solid partnerships here with Vietnam’s government and communities.