Pollution, environmental degradation and climate change have been and are the biggest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century, having serious impacts on socio-economic development, global environmental security and Vietnam.
Environmental protection is considered a common responsibility of the whole society and people and requires the joint efforts of nations, localities, social classes, including compatriots and religious organizations.
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| Monks, nuns, and Buddhists of Bo De Lan Pagoda (District 6, Ho Chi Minh City) participate in cleaning the environment and streets in Ward 8. (Source: tuyengiao.vn) |
Environmental protection is also the right and duty of religions.
According to world environmental experts, in the next 10 years, Vietnam's GDP could double, but if we do not pay due attention to environmental protection and climate change response, for every 1% increase in average GDP, the damage caused by environmental pollution will cause a loss of about 3% of GDP.
This is one of the difficult and heavy tasks for Vietnam when it has to focus on economic development, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, while protecting the environment towards sustainable development goals.
Environmental protection is both the goal and the basic content of green growth and sustainable development in Vietnam. Therefore, in short-term and long-term socio-economic development strategies and plans, especially in the National Environmental Protection Strategy to 2030, vision to 2050 and the National Strategy on Green Growth for the period 2021-2030, vision to 2050, Vietnam has always been consistent with the green growth model and towards the people: environmental protection must take the protection of people's health as the top goal; expanding equal access for people to the development results of the green transition process.
In recent times, to create a combined strength in environmental protection and climate change response, the participation of religious people has become very important.
The teachings of all religions have similarities, first of all the commandments that teach people to reduce selfishness, love each other, live with compassion, charity, harmony and respect for nature, protect the living environment, and strive for Truth - Goodness - Beauty, completely consistent with the development trend of society, when the responsibility to protect the environment requires the cooperation of all organizations and individuals.
Along with the increasing number of religious followers, the participation of religious organizations in many areas of social life is a favorable condition to promote and encourage religious followers to participate in environmental protection. It can be said that religious and worshiping establishments (communal houses, pagodas, temples, churches, shrines...) often have solemn and unique architecture and are located in green, clean and beautiful surrounding gardens.
Religious dignitaries and monks regularly encourage followers to plant trees in places of worship; clean the environment before, during and after major holidays; and actively participate in environmental activities organized by local authorities.
Many religions have been actively promoting environmental protection through talks, media, and sermons and religious holidays. At the same time, at religious activities, religious dignitaries and monks regularly promote to followers the role and significance of the environment to religious beliefs and human health.
An important event was in 2015, at the national conference on "Promoting the role of religions in environmental protection and responding to climate change", representatives of 16 religions in Vietnam, together with the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment signed the Environmental Protection Coordination Program for the period 2015-2020 (Coordination Program) with 5 contents and 7 goals and solutions.
The coordination program has been implemented for nearly 10 years, creating positive changes, fundamentally changing the awareness of religious leaders and organizations. In each locality, the contents of the coordination program are integrated into the implementation of patriotic emulation movements and campaigns, such as: "All people unite to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas"; the movement "All people participate in environmental protection"...
Currently, the above organizations are directing the implementation of the Coordination Program for the period 2022-2026 to continue to effectively promote the cultural values, good ethics and resources of religions participating in environmental protection and responding to climate change. Strive for 100% of religious dignitaries, officials, monks and nuns, and religious organizations to know and actively participate in responding to this Coordination Program by 2026. This will contribute positively and proactively to the implementation of the National Environmental Protection Strategy to 2030, vision to 2050 and the National Strategy on Climate Change Response to 2050.
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| Representatives of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Soc Trang province, Catholic and Protestant representatives signed a cooperation program on environmental protection for the period 2022-2026. (Source: VNA) |
Contribution of religion in environmental protection
Over the past years, religious organizations of 14 religions in Vietnam have proactively and actively implemented effectively the contents, goals and solutions in the above-mentioned Coordination Program. Thereby, many good models and good practices in environmental protection have been initiated and effectively implemented by religious dignitaries in many localities across the country.
Outstanding movements include: Parishes and places of worship “Green, clean, beautiful”; communities, solidarity groups, and religious self-management groups participating in environmental protection; classifying and treating household waste in households and religious establishments; limiting the burning of votive paper in places of worship; Parishioners’ clubs participating in environmental sanitation every Friday; parishioners collecting and classifying waste, packaging, plastic bottles, etc.
To date, there are more than 2,000 models of religions on environmental protection deployed nationwide. In many localities, religious organizations have deployed and built effective models and good practices, typically: Can Tho city has a model of "Waste treatment, building incinerators, planting trees, fire extinguishers" at Hao Hoa Tu of the Executive Committee of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha in Tan Loc ward, Thot Not district...
The above movements have created a great spread in society, contributing to the common efforts and determination of the entire political system in stopping the decline, gradually improving and restoring environmental quality indicators; proactively adapting to climate change and rising sea levels.
Many messages from religious organizations have profound meanings. Buddhism sends the message: “Each person, through practical actions, commits to protecting the environment, also protecting themselves…”. Catholicism sends the message: “We, the Vietnamese people on this beloved land, together, with all our hearts, minds, wills, and strength, determined to contribute to saving the tragic situation of this Earth before it is too late…”. Hoa Hao Buddhism sends the message: “The religious life of Hoa Hao Buddhists is inseparable from daily life and the duty to protect a beautiful, safe and sustainable environment for life”…
| Article 4, Clause 1 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection of Vietnam clearly states: “Environmental protection is the right, obligation and responsibility of all agencies, organizations, communities, households and individuals”. |
To promote the participation of religions in effective environmental protection in the next stage, it is necessary to unify awareness and synchronously implement the following solutions:
Firstly, promote propaganda to raise awareness and sense of responsibility for environmental protection in the community, believers, and religious organizations; equip knowledge, understanding, and experience; continue to replicate and build new advanced models and examples in the community and religious organizations participating in environmental protection in accordance with the characteristics and conditions of each religion and each region.
In particular, it is necessary to focus on discovering and replicating models of classifying household waste at the source for recycling and reuse; limiting and moving towards not using disposable plastic products and hard-to-decompose plastic bags.
Second, religions need to integrate the building of awareness, lifestyle, and culture of environmental protection into religious ethics education in the community for the happiness of the community and the benefit of society. At the same time, it is necessary to create consensus among the people in implementing policies, strategies, and plans for environmental protection.
Third, the State needs to soon issue a set of documents on citizens’ rights and obligations in participating in environmental protection. This is the basis for religious organizations and individuals to plan to implement propaganda and raise awareness of religious dignitaries, monks and followers in religious activities appropriate to each religion. On the other hand, it is necessary to build and replicate environmental protection pilot models in residential areas suitable to the characteristics and conditions of each religion so that religious and non-religious people can participate in implementation.
Fourth, strengthen the mobilization of religious dignitaries and followers to actively participate in emulation movements and campaigns launched by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and organizations, and actively participate in environmental protection activities in families and communities.
Ministries, branches at the central and local levels need to allocate funds to support religious organizations in implementing environmental protection plans; continue to build environmental self-management models in religious residential areas associated with implementing criteria for building new rural areas, civilized urban areas, and sustainable poverty reduction.
Fifth, further promote the role of supervision and social criticism of the Fatherland Front at all levels and religious organizations in formulating and implementing policies and laws on environmental protection; combat and prevent violations of environmental laws, and prevent the exploitation of environmental issues to divide the great solidarity of ethnic groups and disrupt security and order.
The State needs to support religious organizations in Vietnam in communication work and raising awareness so that religions can participate more effectively with the Party, National Assembly and Government in environmental protection work.
| The State needs to soon issue a set of documents on citizens’ rights and obligations in participating in environmental protection. This is the basis for religious organizations and individuals to plan to implement propaganda and raise awareness of religious dignitaries, monks and followers in religious activities appropriate to each religion. On the other hand, it is necessary to build and replicate environmental protection pilot models in residential areas suitable to the characteristics and conditions of each religion so that religious and non-religious people can participate in implementation. |
(*) Member of the 15th National Assembly, Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment.
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