Environment

Determination of optimal conditions for extracting terephthalic acid (H2BDC) derived from PET waste using Response Surface Methodology (RSM

2025-12-23T09:35:38+07:00

This study aimed to develop a practically viable method for extracting terephthalic acid (H₂BDC) from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to examine the influence and interaction of extractant (NaOH) concentration, hydrolysis time, and size of PET waste on the optimal H₂BDC yield. Experimental results demonstrated that NaOH concentration significantly impacted both H₂BDC yield, following the effects of hydrolysis time and size of PET waste. Under optimal conditions involving a temperature of 160 °C and a 12 h reaction time with 15% NaOH, the yield model predicted an 81.58% yield, which closely matched the experimental results of 84.56%. The findings highlight the high PET-derived H₂BDC quality, meeting commercial product criteria with evidence of high purity. This method presents a promising solution for extracting H₂BDC from PET waste, with potential implications for the recycling industry and a positive environmental impact.

Assessment of the impact on surface water quality due to brackish shrimp farming in Phu Tan commune, Tien Giang province in period 2020-2024

2025-12-23T09:40:25+07:00

In recent years, brackish water shrimp farming has developed strongly and become an important economic sector of Tien Giang province. However, the reuse of polluted shrimp ponds or the discharge of sludge into the surrounding environment has polluted the surrounding water sources, affecting the economic activities and lives of people in the area. Assessment of the impact of shrimp farming wastewater on river and estuary water environment in Phu Tan commune, Tien Giang province applies the Canadian CCME water quality index. The reaserch’s results showed that the quality of the surrounding surface water is at a serious pollution level during the discharge period of shrimp ponds into the environment with TSS and COD concentrations ranging from 10.5 - 435.5 mg/L and 8.3 - 236 mg/L, both exceeding the threshold B of QCVN 08:2023/BTNMT. The research’s results also showed that most of the monitoring locations around the discharge area had TSS and COD components exceeding the threshold and WQI_CCME was very low and corresponded to a serious pollution level. This is the factor showing the impact of discharge (wastewater, sludge) from brackish water shrimp ponds in the area contributing to surface water pollution in the area.

Application of biological filter in recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for super-intensive whiteleg (Litopenaeus vannamei) shrimp farming in Vinh Long province

2025-12-23T09:44:01+07:00

The research and development of a biofilter for whiteleg shrimp farming, intended for high-density cultivation, has been conducted in laboratory settings and practical applications. The results in the laboratory illustrate the high potential for application in practice. To guarantee the procedure's feasibility, it was deemed necessary to implement an experimental application of the process in a pond with an area of 500 m². The parameters for the practical model have been determined for the mass balance of total ammonia, solids, dissolved oxygen, biofilter size, and flow time in the water circulation system. Experimental results indicate a high treatment efficiency, with H₂S removal reaching approximately 77% and an increase in dissolved oxygen concentration ranging from 42% to 48%.

Isolation and Identification of Azo Dye–Degrading Microorganisms from Textile Wastewater Treatment Sludge

2025-12-23T09:46:01+07:00

This study aimed to isolate, qualitatively screen, and identify azo dye–degrading microorganisms from the activated sludge of a textile wastewater treatment system. Congo Red (100 mg/L) was used as the sole selective dye in Minimal Salt Medium to enrich potential degraders. A total of ten bacterial isolates (M1–M10) were successfully obtained, all exhibiting decolorization halos ranging from 22 to 46 mm on MSM agar. Among them, isolates M1 and M8 demonstrated the strongest activity, forming clear zones of 46 mm and 44 mm after 48 hours, respectively. Molecular identification through 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that M1 shared 99.87% similarity with Bacillus subtilis, while M8 shared 99.86% similarity with Bacillus licheniformis. Both species are known for their production of extracellular oxidative enzymes, such as laccases and peroxidases, which play key roles in azo bond cleavage and aromatic amine detoxification. These findings highlight the presence of native, dye-adapted Bacillus strains with strong decolorization capacity in textile wastewater sludge and provide foundational data for developing bioaugmentation agents applicable in sustainable textile effluent treatment systems.

UN Climate Change Conference - Turning climate commitments into collective action

2025-12-23T09:47:45+07:00

The annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP) stands as the world's most critical multilateral platform for addressing the climate crisis, bringing together nearly every nation on Earth to forge a collective path forward. The 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 30) convened in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil. It included the 30^th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 30), the 20^th meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 20), and the seventh meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 7), as well as the 63^rd sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 63) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 63) also met.

Building a set of criteria for new-style rural area for the 2026-2030 period: Some issues arising in the new context

2025-12-23T09:58:22+07:00

To concretize the goal of building new-style rural area according to Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW dated 5 August 2008 of the 10^th Party Central Committee on agriculture, farmers, and rural area, the Prime Minister issued the National set of criteria for new-style rural area for the 2010-2020 period (Decision No. 491/QD-TTg dated 16 April 2009). The content of the set of criteria for new-style rural area covers many fields, from planning, infrastructure, economy, culture, society, environment to the political system, security, national defense... Through different periods, the set of criteria has been constantly improved, and has now become the "backbone" of the National Target Program on Building New-Style Rural Area (the Program).

Building new-style rural area in Vietnam: 15-year achievements and orientation to 2035

2025-12-23T09:55:53+07:00

Vietnam's rural area is home to the majority of the population and is also the space that preserves the national cultural soul. Since early days of independence, the idea of building a new life for the people has been formed, at that time the rural population accounted for 90%. By 2024, this rate has decreased to about 62% due to urbanization. However, rural area, agriculture and farmers still play a strategic role in the cause of building and defending the fatherland. After many pilot steps, in 2010, the National Target Program on Building New-Style Rural Area was officially implemented nationwide. After 15 years, the Program has created comprehensive and profound changes in the rural area. Entering a new period, new-style rural area is expected to open up a larger scale, accompanying the era of national development.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture: Policy framework and implementation in Vietnam

2025-12-23T10:00:16+07:00

Climate change (CC) is posing major challenges to Vietnam's agricultural production, especially in the Mekong Delta - the country's largest rice granary. According to the 2020 greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory data calculated by the Institute of Agricultural Environment, Vietnam's total GHG emissions reached about 454.6 million tons of CO₂ eq, nearly double that of 2010. Of which, agriculture contributed about 116.51 million tons, with crop cultivation alone accounting for 80% of the industry's emissions

The Project on “Emissions reduction in the crop production sector for the period 2025 - 2035, vision to 2050": The foundation for Vietnam to move towards green and sustainable agriculture

2025-12-23T09:53:42+07:00

The Project on "Emissions reduction in the crop production sector for the period 2025 - 2035, vision to 2050" has just been signed and issued by Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang in Decision No. 4024/QD-BNNMT dated September 29^th 2025, with the goal of putting the crop sector into a low-emission orbit, ensuring national food security, and at the same time improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products in the international market. At the same time, the project aims to promote sustainable agricultural development, adapt to climate change, and realize the commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.

Sustainable Development of the Mekong Delta’s Rice Sector: One Year of Transformation and the first milestones of the 'One Million Hectares' Project

2025-12-23T09:52:02+07:00

In the context of Vietnam’s agricultural sector facing multiple challenges - including climate change, land degradation, environmental pollution, and market fluctuations - developing a high-quality, low-emission, and sustainable rice production model based on science and technology has become an urgent priority. The project “Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Specialized Rice Production in the Mekong Delta by 2030” officially entered its pilot and implementation phase in 2024. Its goal is to chart a new course for Vietnam’s rice industry, enhancing the national brand and contributing to the protection of the planet for future generations. This article analyzes the outcomes of the project’s first year - from policy direction and pilot models to results in productivity, quality, and environmental performance - while identifying challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. Based on these findings, it offers recommendations for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta’s rice sector in the coming period.

Difficulties and shortcomings in implementing air quality management policies in Vietnam and propose perfect solutions

2025-12-23T09:50:17+07:00

Although air quality management has been addressed since the Law on Environmental Protection of 1993, the Law on Environmental Protection of 2004, and particularly the Law on Environmental Protection of 2014, the provisions set out in these laws and their implementing decrees remain largely general in nature. They have not provided specific guidance or solutions for air quality protection tailored to different sectors, levels of administration, or regulated entities (Articles 62 - 64 of the 2014 Law on Environmental Protection). As a result, the law has not delved deeply into the issue, nor has it fully harnessed the strengths of legal instruments in protecting and improving air quality.

The Seventh Edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7): Charting a course towards a sustainable future in a decade of crisis

2025-12-23T09:49:09+07:00

The Global Environment Outlook (GEO) is the flagship report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) providing an integrated assessment of environmental change, the current state of the environment, the effectiveness of policy response and the options for achieving different possible futures in the medium to long term. The Seventh Edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) stands as a monumental and authoritative scientific assessment of the state of the global environment, meticulously produced under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Since its inception in 1997, the GEO series has served as the world's pre-eminent science-policy interface, offering comprehensive diagnostics of environmental conditions, trends, and future pathways to achieve sustainable development. GEO-7 arrives at a singularly critical juncture in human history, confronting a world wrestling with the compounding and interconnected nature of the Triple Planetary Crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution/waste. The palpable lack of momentum toward realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by their 2030 deadline casts a long shadow, intensifying the urgency for systemic, transformative action. Therefore, GEO-7 is more than a mere assessment; it is a scientifically grounded mandate for change, designed to equip policymakers with the evidence, knowledge, and actionable recommendations necessary to dismantle political and economic barriers and forge a path toward a truly equitable and sustainable future.

Application of low-emission high technology in crop production: Typical models in some countries in the world and lessons for Vietnam

2025-12-23T09:47:51+07:00

The article synthesizes low-emission high-tech farming models implemented in countries around the world, focusing on precision agriculture, regenerative agriculture, biotechnology, digital agriculture and circular agriculture. Through analyzing the results of typical models, the article draws valuable lessons for Vietnam to develop green agriculture, adapt to climate change and fulfill its commitment to reduce emissions.

China's experience in integrating environmental planning towards green rural area and sustainable future

2025-12-23T09:46:29+07:00

With a large rural population, China faces a major challenge in modernizing the rural area without degrading the environment. Since the 18^th Party Congress (2012), the Communist Party of China has emphasized the building of “Ecological civilization” and “Rural revitalization”, aiming to create “Rich, beautiful, and liveable” villages (Reports of the 19^th and 20^th Congresses). The theme of “Green development” is inspired by traditional wisdom, such as the concept of “Clear waters and green mountains are equal to mountains of silver and gold” of General Secretary Xi Jinping. In the context of globalization and climate change, China has built a rural development model associated with environmental protection and green growth. The article summarizes the combination of the idea of “Unity between heaven and people” and modern policies, especially China’s Comprehensive Rural Revitalization Plan 2024-2027. Based on data and academic research, local authorities integrated digital technology, low-carbon energy, and sustainable resource management into infrastructure and services. Typically, the “Ten Million Project" in Zhejiang has contributed to improving the landscape, clean water, and waste; Jiangsu has upgraded its transportation, water supply and drainage systems, and digitized operations. Results have contributed to improving the quality of the rural environment (wastewater treatment rate of about 85% in some places), while promoting the green economy and improving people's lives. This experience suggests a policy framework for developing countries facing challenges of rapid urbanization and environmental degradation, towards harmonious development between people, nature and technology.

Air pollution in Thailand: Perspectives from management practices

2025-12-23T09:45:23+07:00

The article analyzes the current situation and solutions to control air pollution in Thailand, in the context of increasingly serious PM2.5 dust in major cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. The main causes come from traffic, industry, agricultural burning and forest fires, combined with the phenomenon of temperature inversion causing pollution to accumulate at low levels. In this situation, Thailand has synchronously deployed many solutions: applying strict emission standards, flexible traffic adjustment, expanding automatic monitoring systems, using satellite data and artificial intelligence, developing the Air4Thai application to provide real-time air quality information. At the same time, Thailand also promotes the legal framework through the "Clean Air" Bill, strengthens public education and communication, and international cooperation to control cross-border pollution. Experiences from Thailand demonstrate the importance of cross-sectoral governance, technology investment and social engagement in efforts to build clean air and sustainable development.

New climate pledges only slightly lower dangerous global warming projections

2025-12-23T09:44:00+07:00

The sixteenth edition of the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2025: Off Target, reveals a persistent and perilous chasm between climate ambition and the emissions pathways required to meet the Paris Agreement goals. This paper critically analyzes the report's key findings, specifically focusing on the minimal trajectory shift resulting from updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the alarming forecast for a 1.5°C overshoot, and the necessary scale of decarbonization required by 2035. While the projections under NDCs have slightly improved to 2.3°C - 2.5°C (down from 2.6°C - 2.8°C), this marginal gain is insufficient to avoid a major escalation of climate risks. The analysis emphasizes the necessity of immediate, system-wide transformations across energy, finance, and land-use sectors, arguing that the political will to accelerate near-term cuts remains the most formidable barrier to limiting the extent and duration of the predicted temperature overshoot.

Proposing cultural criteria in the program on building new-style rural area for the 2026-2030 period

2025-12-23T09:40:56+07:00

The National Target Program on Building New-Style Rural Area has been implemented nationwide since 2010. After 15 years, the appearance of Vietnam's rural area has fundamentally changed and followed the trend of comprehensive development, the material and spiritual life of the people has increasingly improved. In the goal of the Program from the first period, the cultural factor has always been given attention, for example, in the overall goal of Decision No. 800/QD-TTg approving the National Target Program on Building New-Style Rural Area for the 2010-2020 period (dated 4 June 2010), it was clearly stated that "building a democratic, stable rural society, rich in national cultural identity". In following periods, culture always plays an important role in the process of building new-style rural area, advanced new-style rural area, exemplary new-style rural area and is clearly shown in each specific criterion and target.

Pathways for Green Transformation in agriculture in Vietnam

2025-12-23T09:39:08+07:00

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security, rural livelihoods, and economic growth, yet it also exerts significant pressure on the environment through greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation, and water pollution. This paper examines the dynamic relationship between agricultural development and environmental sustainability in Vietnam, emphasizing the opportunities and challenges of transforming the agricultural sector toward a green, low-carbon future. Green growth in agriculture plays a crucial role in the ongoing economic restructuring towards sustainability, given its specific approach to resource utilization to fulfill developmental needs.

Strengthening policy frameworks for economically viable sustainable agriculture

2025-12-23T09:37:58+07:00

Sustainable agriculture (SA) is crucial for securing food systems and mitigating climate change, yet its widespread adoption is hindered by initial economic risks and lack of supportive infrastructure. This commentary argues that realizing SA’s full potential requires a fundamental shift in governmental policy, moving from production-centric mandates to holistic frameworks that prioritize economic viability alongside ecological stewardship. There are three critical policy interventions: repurposing subsidies, scaling market-based incentives, and investing in climate-smart public goods to de-risk the transition for farmers globally.