The year 2011 is the first year to implement the sustainable economic development strategy to 2015 and orientation to 2020. Sustainable urban development is part of the strategy. However, there still exist many weaknesses, namely traffic congestion, flooding and pollution. On the other hand, "investment phase shifting" still appears, typically when high-rise buildings are built without sufficient calculation of the elements of transport and the environment, further exacerbating traffic jams and floods during the rainy season.
Sustainable urban development requires synchronisation, with policies and mechanisms consistent with the trend of development of industry in Vietnam. According to Mr Nguyen Dinh Bong - Head of Orientation Steering Committee on Sustainable Development, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, it is essential that there is full coordination between the policies of ministries and equal agencies in charge of sustainable urban development. A few small housing projects and several new residential areas are not enough to speak of sustainable development. That's not to mention that many buildings are not contributing much to the sustainable development of urban areas, but causing traffic congestion and more severe urban flooding. These projects are built without sufficient attention to traffic problems and environmental matters.
To achieve sustainable development in urban areas, many solutions must be simultaneously carried out. One of the most important is building homes for low-income people, not only to help poor civilians but also to control illegal building, one of the basic causes exacerbating traffic jams, flooding and environmental pollution. Of course, besides that it is necessary to pay proper attention to the development of residential areas having high commercial value, because this type of housing has economic efficiency and urban unified management, also key factors for sustainable urban development.
Every modern city is the result of deprivation of resources elsewhere, sometimes in other countries. After using all the functions and taking all necessary use values of wood, oil and coal, people discharge smoke and dust, industrial waste, dirty water that is mostly inherited by people who live in the suburbs of a city. Thus, one of the most important principles set forth for sustainable development is: "Sustainable development needs to meet the requirements of present generations without harming to our ability to meet the needs of future generations."
Dr Dao Hoang Tuan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, stated in a research project for sustainable urban development in Hanoi until 2020 that a municipality can only develop sustainably if it is operated under the principle of unity among the three aspects of economy, society and environment, to improve the quality of life of present generations without affecting the development needs of future generations. That framework must reflect unity in planning, development management and actions carried out with the consent of all components of society: state, private and community at local, city and country levels.
It can be seen that most of the environmental improvement projects having a sense of "removing knots" are in the process of building; therefore, these have not brought into play remarkable effectiveness in practice. In this context, it is important that policies and the application of policies are implemented flexibly and suitably with each particular locality, applied in accordance with legal standards; and as a result, urban construction will be oriented toward sustainable development.
Do Ngoc
Vietnamese
