The Vietnamese government has issued a decree to assess damages to the environment, find out and punish polluters to better protect the environment, the government said on its website late Dec 7. As a result, four cases subjected to environmental compensation comprise water sources and land environment for preservation, production and other purposes that are or seriously or extremely polluted; degraded ecosystems; and species with protection priority that are killed or injured. The identification of damage includes collecting data and evidence, calculating damages to the environment, and defining responsibilities of environmental polluters. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and People’s Committees at all levels are empowered to request offenders to compensate for damages to the environment. The environmental polluters are obligatory to pay full compensation and fees for calculating the damages under the regulations. The decree is not applicable in case of natural disasters, force majeure and other situations prescribed under legal regulations. Vietnam is facing serious environmental problems, including pollution of air, water and solid waste, which are posing great threats to the country’s socioeconomic development and human health, due to high population growth, rapid urbanization and industrialization, and lax management of the government. In 2011, the government will spend VND1.1 trillion ($56.41 million) from the state budget on environmental protection activities. (baodientu.chinhphu.vn Dec 7, Thoi Bao Kinh Te – Vietnam Economic Times Dec 8 p3)
