Quyết định 438/QD-TTg

DECISION

APPROVING SCHEME FOR DEVELOPMENT OF CLIMATE-SMART CITIES IN VIETNAM FOR 2021 - 2030

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated June 19, 2015 and Law on Amendments to the Law on Government Organization and Law on Local Government Organization dated November 22, 2019;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW dated June 03, 2013 of the 7th meeting of the 11th Central Committee on active in response to climate change, improvement of natural resource management and environmental protection;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 06/NQ-CP dated January 21, 2021 on action program on continuing implementation of Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW of the 11th Central Committee on active in response to climate change, improvement of natural resource management and environmental protection according to the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 56-KL/TW dated August 23, 2019;

Pursuant to the Government’s Resolution No. 93/NQ-CP dated October 31, 2016 approving Paris Agreement for implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;

Pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1055/QD-TTg dated July 20, 2020 promulgating  national climate change adaptation plan for the 2021 - 2030 period with a vision by 2050;

At the request of the Minister of Construction in Proposal No. 49/TTr-BXD dated December 17, 2020 and Official Dispatch No. 770/BXD-PTDT dated March 09, 2021,

HEREBY DECIDES:

Article 1. The scheme for development of climate-smart cities in Vietnam for 2021 - 2030 (hereinafter referred to as “Scheme”), with the following basic content, is approved:

I. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives: proactively respond to climate change, properly use resources for urban upgrade and development, contribute to gradual control and reduction of air, water and land pollution in compliance with international standards; review, amend and complete the legislative document system, plan and manage investment in urban development when the risks posed by climate change are on the rise; raise awareness, and enhance cooperation between ministries, central authorities and local governments in directing and managing development of climate-smart cities.

2. Specific objectives:

Elaborate requirements of tasks of Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW by the 11th Central Committee, plan for implementation of the Paris Agreement for implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, national strategy for climate change, national target program on response to climate change, national climate change adaptation plan and national climate change scenarios in development of the national urban system.

Develop programs and plans for investigation and evaluation of the level of climate change impact on cities at high risk.

Develop a framework of tasks and solutions for response and adaptation to climate change and sea level rise as well as minimization of risk in urban development in Vietnam.

Propose pilot programs and projects, estimate funding and assign tasks to relevant ministries, central authorities and local governments.

Provide orientations for centralized urban development, improvement of quality of technical infrastructure and environmental services and general planning for adaptation to natural disasters and climate change.

II. SCOPE AND TIMELINE

1. Scope of the Scheme: the Scheme shall be adopted in urban systems nationwide (63 provinces and central-affiliated cities), with a focus on coastal and delta cities facing risk of flooding and cities facing high risk of flash floods and landslides in the Northern Highlands, the Central Coast, the Southeast and the Central Highlands.

2. Timeline:

The Scheme is formulated for the period starting from now to 2030 with a vision for after 2030. To be specific:

First phase (2021-2025): the Scheme shall be implemented in 05 cities, namely Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Can Tho, Hai Phong and Da Nang, and cities of 7 provinces located in the North Central Coast, the Central Coast and the Mekong Delta and 7 provinces located in the Northern Highlands and the Central Highlands.

Second phase (2026-2030): the Scheme shall be implemented in coastal cities and delta cities at risk of flooding; and at high risk of flash floods and landslides in provinces in the Northern Highlands, the Central Coast, the Southeast and the Central Highlands and provinces whose cities suffer from new impacts of climate change.

After 2030: the Scheme shall be implemented throughout the country.

(List of provinces and cities involved in 2021 - 2030 phase is provided for in Appendix I enclosed therewith).

III. TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

The Scheme proposes the following 06 key tasks and solutions:

1. Investigate and evaluate the level of climate change impact on development of existing urban systems and new cities planned to be established during 2021 - 2030; identify areas at risk of great impact from climate change; calculate possibility and level of self-adaptation, propose responding solutions; develop a climate risk map system and database system (hereinafter referred to as “City and Climate Atlas”).

2. Incorporate content on climate change response into plannings and programs and plans for urban development; give risk warnings in urban development areas susceptible to climate change impact.

3. Review and amend systems of legislative documents, standards, regulations on city classification, planning, management of investment in development of cities, housing and technical infrastructure as risks from climate change increase.

4. Develop systems for control and prevention of urban flooding. Build reservoirs for flood regulation; clear, dredge, convert, fortify and change the course of urban drainage channels. Build modern and large groundwater storage, dams, revetment walls, flood walls, flood dividing walls. Identify protected areas and produce solutions for civilian relocation and evacuation in risk areas. Develop flood proof houses and hurricane proof houses.

5. Improve capacity for management and development of climate-smart cities of leaders and specialized officials at all levels. Raise awareness of climate change effects of people; enhance cooperation with the community and relevant parties in this communication.

6. Launch scientific - technological research cooperation programs, projects on pilot development of green growth and smart cities and green, ecological and climate-smart architecture; build energy-saving and emission-reducing works; develop eco-friendly, reused and recycled building materials.

(List of programs and projects on development of climate-smart cities in Vietnam by 2030 is provided for in Appendix II enclosed therewith).

IV. SCHEME PRODUCTS

The Scheme has the following 06 main products:

1. Establishment of local City and Climate Atlases and urban risk warning databases.

2. Promulgation of systems of legislative documents, standards and regulations on urban planning and development; incorporation of guidelines and content on risk and flooding management in urban development.

3. Addition of climate change response and urban development control solutions to urban development orientations, plannings (regional, provincial and urban plannings) and programs.

4. Criteria for determination of areas where investment in building, upgrade and conversion of climate-smart cities is prioritized, which will provide the basis for efficient investment and construction.

5. Addition of technical guidelines for construction and development of green growth and smart cities and green, ecological and climate-smart architecture; update, operation and risk assessment based on data from City and Climate Atlases; promulgation of teaching documents for improvement of capacity for climate change risk management and response.

6. International cooperation in research, pilot implementation of some programs and projects on pilot application of new technology and materials for development of green growth cities, smart cities and green and climate-smart architecture; launch of program on national urban upgrade in response to climate change.

V. FUNDING

1. Funding for the Scheme shall be allocated from budget (including capital for investment in development and funding for recurrent expenditure) according to budget decentralization in compliance with regulations of law on state budget, law on public investment and relevant regulations of law; funding for programs and projects; contributions and sponsorship from Vietnamese and foreign enterprises, organizations and individuals; and other lawfully mobilized sources as per the law.

Funding for the Scheme shall be allocated from budget (including capital for investment in development and funding for recurrent expenditure) according to budget decentralization in compliance with existing regulations of law; funding for programs, schemes and projects; contributions and sponsorship from Vietnamese and foreign enterprises, organizations and individuals; and other lawfully mobilized sources as per the law.

2. It is encouraged to mobilize funding for pilot programs and projects from international cooperation and ODA loans.

Article 2. Implementation

1. The steering committee for national urban development program shall take charge of, expedite, inspect and direct implementation of the Scheme; organize summarization and assessment of and reporting on such implementation to the Prime Minister.

2. The Ministry of Construction shall take charge and cooperate with other ministries, central authorities and People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in organizing performance of the following tasks:

- Adopt the Scheme according to existing regulations; assess results of such adoption for the 2021 - 2025 phase to provide the basis for deciding execution of the following phase, ensuring feasibility and effectiveness of the Scheme.

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Finance, People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in consolidating funding plans and arranging and allocating finance on an annual basis to programs and projects.

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant ministries and central authorities in organizing programs on training in consultancy for and management of climate-smart city development.

- Organize transfer of technical guidelines and results and new regulations of law on climate-smart city development to relevant local governments; establish contact points for management of urban development in provinces and central-affiliated cities.

3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment and Ministry of Finance shall:

Balance and allocate funding from central government budget to enable ministries, central government authorities and local governments to perform tasks assigned according to the approved Scheme as appropriate to budget balancing capacity and in compliance with regulations of law on state budget and public investment; and cooperate in inspecting and supervising Scheme implementation.

4. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Ministry of Science and Technology shall:

Provide consultancy, information, data, maps and scenarios concerning national climate change; incorporate programs of the Scheme into national climate change response plans and programs; revise list of state-level scientific - technological researches supporting the Scheme; take charge and cooperate with the Ministry of Construction, ministries, central authorities and People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities in performing tasks and programs of the Scheme.

5. Other relevant ministries and central authorities shall:

Perform projects of the Scheme assigned; provide consultancy, information and data and incorporate relevant tasks and activities of theirs into activities of the Scheme.

6. People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities shall:

- Proactively review planning and actual development of cities and residential points, and identify location and level of climate change impact.

- Cooperate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Ministry of Construction in developing databases and City and Climate Atlases.

- Proactively allocate funding from local government budget, funding sources for scientific research and other legal funding sources to implement the Scheme. Assign units in charge of implementing the Scheme in their provinces and cities; organize and report on Scheme implementation to the Ministry of Construction on an annual basis.

- Cooperate with ministries, central government authorities and other provinces and central-affiliated cities in projects involving multiple regions and cities.

7. Mass organizations shall proactively participate and encourage the community to participate in development of climate-smart cities.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect from the date on which it is signed.

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of Governmental agencies, Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities and relevant regulatory bodies shall implement this Decision./.

APPENDIX I

LIST OF PROVINCES AND CITIES TO IMPLEMENT THE SCHEME

(Enclosed with the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 438/QD-TTg dated March, 25, 2021)

A. 5 CENTRAL-AFFILIATED CITIES

1. Ho Chi Minh City

2. Hanoi

3. Can Tho

4. Hai Phong

5. Da Nang

II. CITIES OF 40 PROVINCES HEAVILY AFFECTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE

I. Coastal cities and delta cities facing risk of flooding and water degradation due to saltwater intrusion

1. Thai Binh Province (Thai Binh City, Kien Xuong Town)

2. Nam Dinh Province (Nam Dinh City, Thinh Long Town)

3. Quang Ninh Province (Uong Bi City, Quang Yen Town)

4. Thanh Hoa Province (Sam Son City, Bim Son Town, Nghi Son Town)

5. Nghe An Province (Vinh City, Hoang Mai Town, Cua Lo Town)

6. Ha Tinh Province (Ha Tinh City, Hong Linh Town, Thien Cam Town)

7. Quang Nam Province (Hoi An City, Tam Ky City, Dien Ban Town)

8. Quang Ngai Province (Quang Ngai City, Duc Pho Town)

9. Thua Thien Hue Province (Hue City, Huong Thuy Town, Huong Tra Town)

10. Quang Binh Province (Dong Hoi City, Kien Giang Town, Ba Don Town)

11. Quang Tri (Quang Tri Town)

12. Binh Dinh Province (Hoai Nhon Town, Phu My Town)

13. Phu Yen Province (Song Cau Town)

14. Ninh Thuan Province (Phuoc Dan Town, Tan Son Town)

15. Binh Thuan Province (Phan Thiet City, La Gi Town)

16. Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province (Vung Tau City, Ba Ria City)

17. Kien Giang Province (Rach Gia City, Ha Tien City)

18. Hau Giang Province (Vi Thanh City, Nga Bay City)

19. Soc Trang Province (Soc Trang City, Vinh Chau Town, Nga Nam Town, Tran De Town)

20. Vinh Long Province (Binh Minh Town, Vung Liem Town, Tra On Town)

21. Tra Vinh Province (Duyen Hai Town)

22. Ben Tre Province (Ben Tre City)

23. Long An Province (Tan An City, Kien Tuong Town)

24. Dong Thap Province (Hong Ngu City)

25. An Giang Province (Long Xuyen City)

26. Tien Giang Province (Go Cong Town)

27. Bac Lieu Province (Bac Lieu City)

28. Ca Mau Province (Ca Mau City, Nam Can Town)

II. Mountainous and highland cities affected by drought, flash floods, landslides and groundwater degradation

29. Dien Binh Province (Muong Lay Town)

30. Bac Kan Province (Bac Kan City)

31. Tuyen Quang Province (Tuyen Quang City, Na Hang Town)

32. Lao Cai Province (Lao Cai City)

33. Yen Bai Province (Yen Bai City)

34. Cao Bang Province (Cao Bang City)

35. Ha Giang Province (Ha Giang City)

36. Lai Chau Province (Lai Chau City, Tan Uyen Town)

37. Hoa Binh Province (Hoa Binh City)

38. Son La Province (Son La City)

39. Dak Lak Province (Buon Ma Thuot City, Buon Ho Town)

40. Dak Nong Province (Gia Nghia City).

APPENDIX II

LIST OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ON DEVELOPMENT OF CLIMATE-SMART CITIES IN VIETNAM FOR 2021 - 2030
(Enclosed with the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 438/QD-TTg dated March, 25, 2021)