Quang Ninh (VNA) – Green transformation for energy and water resource security in the Mekong Sub-region is crucial for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to respond to climate change, experts said at a seminar held in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh on October 16.
The event was jointly held by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), the Korean Environment Institute (KEI), the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) and the Lao Academy of Social Sciences (LASS).
VASS Vice President Prof. Dr. Dang Nguyen Anh, energy and water resource security is a leading important issue of developing countries. The matter is particularly significant to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as it has close relations with economy, politics and society in those nations, he said.
Green transformation for energy and water resource security helps increase cooperation among the three nations while contributing to the sustainable growth of each country, Anh said, highlighting that cross-border approach is an innovative solution to reducing environmental costs.
Tran Minh, an expert from the VASS’s Institute of Regional Sustainable Development, said Vietnam has huge potential in terms of green energy and renewable energy but the development of renewable energy remained stagnant due to limitations in finance, technology, and practices.
Also, he laid stress on the effective use of green energy, saying that it play a vital role in reducing pollution and bring in more benefits.
Associate Prof. Dr. Somchith Souksavath, Assistant to the LASS President, underlined that the development of renewable energy is one of the Lao Government’s priority policies to stabilise energy supply, support socio-economic development, alleviate poverty, and serve energy exports to ASEAN member states.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kim Ik-Jae, a senior research fellow from the KEI, emphasized the need to give future orientations in water resource management. He suggested the construction of a water resource monitoring system which facilitates the management in the Mekong Sub-region countries.
RAC Director Eap Ponna said that the management of hydroelectric dams on the Mekong river is father complicated, thus, it is crucial to build official mechanisms, mobilise the involvement of non-governmental organisations.
At the event, experts agreed that countries should focus on improving the possibility of mechanisms and policies, work to diversify energy resources to ensure energy and water security, and enhance information exchange and technology transfer in green transformation.-VNA