Many events related to renewable energy have been held in Vietnam to find solutions to promote renewable energy and raise public awareness of the benefits of renewable energy as the country is seeking alternative energy sources and fighting environmental pollution.On August 21, the Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA) and the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) opened the Vietnam Renewable Energy Week 2018. This event kicked off a series of activities that will take place from August 21 to 26 in three major cities namely Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.
The opening ceremony of the Vietnam Renewable Energy Week 2018
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Nguy Thi Khanh, executive director of the Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID) – a member of VSEA, said that the Vietnam Renewable Energy Week 2018 with five major events taking place in three major cities and 18 nationally-anticipated events will attract the direct participation of 2,300 delegates and more than 10,000 followers online.
"We believe that many new cooperation opportunities will be developed through the Vietnam Renewable Energy Week and the public will support and participate in the initiative of "Million Green Houses for Vietnam’s Prosperity". I believe that every citizen has a good idea and tries to make the idea come true, thus, we will make a positive contribution for the country’s development," Khanh told Hanoitimes.
Khanh stressed that with the message of "Clearing the path for renewable energy to every home in Vietnam", the series of activities during the Renewable Energy Week will help show that renewable energy can reach every Vietnamese person from urban areas to rural ones.
Follow-up activities will focus on the multi-dimensional benefits of renewable energy in life through learned lessons from different related partners, Khanh said.
The week will be concluded by the Run for Renewable Energy 2018 in the EcoPark urban area on the skirts of Hanoi on August 26. This is not only a sporting event, but also has profound social and environmental implications, with about 700 people expected to join.
Reducing environmental pollution and promoting renewable energy to improve public health
Previously, with the aim of responding to the event of "Vietnam Sustainable Energy Week 2018", the workshop on "Environmental pollution, renewable energy and public health" was held on August 20.
Dr. Do Manh Cuong speaks at the workshop
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In the framework of the workshop, scientists introduced many issues related to environmental pollution, renewable energy and urgent public health.
Dr. Do Manh Cuong from the Department of Environment and Health Management under the Ministry of Health said that health problems caused by air pollution to humans are a headache. When exposed to contaminated air, the human body can easily contract diseases such as poisoning, respiratory infections, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, risk of premature birth and so on.
Therefore, in the coming time, the healthcare sector will conduct studies and assess the impacts of air pollution, especially air at home to human health, Cuong added.
Sharing international experience in public health protection, experts from the University of Minnesota introduced the US’s air pollution control models that minimizes the impacts of climate change, environmental pollution to protect public health.
They emphasized that renewable energy is playing an important role in rural development, helping to create more incomes for farmers and modernize agricultural production.
Apart from bringing economic benefits to rural areas, renewable energy is also a domestic energy source that can help Vietnam become more proactive in energy supply and reduce its dependence on fluctuations of global oil, coal and gas prices, the US experts affirmed.
