So far Vietnam has been known as one of the fastest growing economies in Asia with an increase of over 6.5% in gross domestic product (GDP) each year from 2000 onwards ( VERN, n.d.). However, any success always comes with a certain price. Apart from the bright side of the development, the economic outbreak has also put huge pressure on Vietnam's environment, and has become the most threatening factor to people's quality of life. There are two bad effects on the environment caused by economic development: air pollution and degradation of natural resources. And these two effects are now a burning topic, which often appears in most discussions about the local environment.
Air polution is one of the most serious issues in most cities of Vietnam nowadays. As far as I can see, the number of industrial zones in Vietnam has risen significantly in the past few years. At the same time, most air pollution originates from gas emissions of several factories inside such industrial zones. In an article on environment, Fuller (2007) showed that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two biggest industrial cities in Vietnam, were said to have a level of PM10, one of the most noxious pollutants primarily caused by burning fossil fuels in industry, of about 80 micrograms per cubic meter, double the level in Bangkok and even above the guideline of 20 set by the World Health Organization. To reflect the seriousness of this, Vietnam had two cities amongst the six cities suffering from the most polluted air in the world in the global environment outlook released in 2007 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as Loan(2007) noted. Such surprising information reflects the potential danger of Vietnam's air pollution issue. When comparing the air pollution in the country with that in other countries, we see that this issue has become really severe. Obviously, the current level of air pollution in Vietnam is worth concern.
In addition, there is another impact of the economic growth: the worrying decrease in the amount of natural resources. As the heavy industrial factories always require a great deal of raw materials, more and more minerals are exploited without efficient management and rehabilitation. Moreover, rapid expansion in other economic activities such as agricultural fertilizing and commercial logging raises concerns about water resources and the number of different plants and animals which are fading fast. According to The World Bank's website, "closed canopy forests in Vietnam still make up only 13 percent of the total forest area, while poor regenerating forests account for 55 percent. More than three-fourths of the country's mangrove forests would be gone in the next 50 years" (n.d., para.9). I firmly believe that the rate of decline in natural resources will be even higher than that one of the forecast. If the economy keeps rising as much as possible irregardless of destroying natural resources, sooner or later Vietnam will have to pay a heavy price for this.
In conclusion, the effect of economic growth on the environment in Vietnam has changed to an alarming level. Better late than never, the government as well as the Vietnamese people should take actions immediately to protect the environment against such problems. We Vietnamese should put hands together to find an appropriate balance between the economic growth and the quality of the environment.
References
Fuller, T.(2007, July 6). Air pollution fast becoming an issue in booming Vietnam.
The International Herald Tribune, p.9.
Loan, P.(2007, October 29). Hanoi, HCM City in top cities of dust.
Retrieved March 13, 2008, from http://english.vietnamnet.vn/tech/2007/10/751937/
The World Bank.(n.d.). Vietnam Environment. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/EXTEAPREGTOPENVIRONMENT/0,,contentMDK:20266331~menuPK:3558292~pagePK:34004173~piPK:34003707~theSitePK:502886,00.html#industrial
VERN-Vietnam Economic Research Network.(n.d.). Vietnam's GDP Growth, 1990- 2005.
Retrieved March 13, 2008, from http://www.vern.org.vn/resources/GDP_Growth.htm
Air polution is one of the most serious issues in most cities of Vietnam nowadays. As far as I can see, the number of industrial zones in Vietnam has risen significantly in the past few years. At the same time, most air pollution originates from gas emissions of several factories inside such industrial zones. In an article on environment, Fuller (2007) showed that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two biggest industrial cities in Vietnam, were said to have a level of PM10, one of the most noxious pollutants primarily caused by burning fossil fuels in industry, of about 80 micrograms per cubic meter, double the level in Bangkok and even above the guideline of 20 set by the World Health Organization. To reflect the seriousness of this, Vietnam had two cities amongst the six cities suffering from the most polluted air in the world in the global environment outlook released in 2007 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as Loan(2007) noted. Such surprising information reflects the potential danger of Vietnam's air pollution issue. When comparing the air pollution in the country with that in other countries, we see that this issue has become really severe. Obviously, the current level of air pollution in Vietnam is worth concern.
In addition, there is another impact of the economic growth: the worrying decrease in the amount of natural resources. As the heavy industrial factories always require a great deal of raw materials, more and more minerals are exploited without efficient management and rehabilitation. Moreover, rapid expansion in other economic activities such as agricultural fertilizing and commercial logging raises concerns about water resources and the number of different plants and animals which are fading fast. According to The World Bank's website, "closed canopy forests in Vietnam still make up only 13 percent of the total forest area, while poor regenerating forests account for 55 percent. More than three-fourths of the country's mangrove forests would be gone in the next 50 years" (n.d., para.9). I firmly believe that the rate of decline in natural resources will be even higher than that one of the forecast. If the economy keeps rising as much as possible irregardless of destroying natural resources, sooner or later Vietnam will have to pay a heavy price for this.
In conclusion, the effect of economic growth on the environment in Vietnam has changed to an alarming level. Better late than never, the government as well as the Vietnamese people should take actions immediately to protect the environment against such problems. We Vietnamese should put hands together to find an appropriate balance between the economic growth and the quality of the environment.
References
Fuller, T.(2007, July 6). Air pollution fast becoming an issue in booming Vietnam.
The International Herald Tribune, p.9.
Loan, P.(2007, October 29). Hanoi, HCM City in top cities of dust.
Retrieved March 13, 2008, from http://english.vietnamnet.vn/tech/2007/10/751937/
The World Bank.(n.d.). Vietnam Environment. Retrieved March 13, 2008, from
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/EXTEAPREGTOPENVIRONMENT/0,,contentMDK:20266331~menuPK:3558292~pagePK:34004173~piPK:34003707~theSitePK:502886,00.html#industrial
VERN-Vietnam Economic Research Network.(n.d.). Vietnam's GDP Growth, 1990- 2005.
Retrieved March 13, 2008, from http://www.vern.org.vn/resources/GDP_Growth.htm
5 comments:
This is a quite nice essay!I think all the developing countries have the same problems:pollution,waste,and so on.
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Environment is always sacrificed when a country is growing. I think all countries can't really do much to protect environment when they are growing. Indonesia is also facing the same problem as vietnam.
I think R&D is equally important when it comes to economic growth. Perhaps Vietnamese governmnent may promote the growth of this sector of economy.
Your essay is so good^-^.Admire~.I think it's time for humans to find the solution instead of complaining or blaming of industry.We all know that and it is time to do!right?
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