Nguy Thi Khanh, founder and director of Green Innovation and Development Center (GreenID), has become the first Vietnamese ever that makes it to the annual list which this year also honors Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swede who started a school strike for climate outside the Swedish parliament, and David Attenborough, a renowned English broadcaster, natural historian and environmental advocate.

Nguy Thi Khanh, director of Green Innovation and Development Center (GreenID) is named of the most 100 most influential people in climate policy in 2019.

Khanh, 43, is in the Academia and Advocacy category of the list, which was published in the official site of Apolitical, a global network for government which helps public servants find ideas, people and partners they need to take on the hardest challenges facing their societies.

In 2011 Khanh founded GreenID to educate communities in rural areas on renewable energy and convince officials to adjust their policies towards sustainable development.

She is also the advocacy coordinator for the Vietnam Rivers Network, a forum designed to protect rivers and promote sustainable development.

One of her most significant contributions is an effort to curb coal pollution in Vietnam.

She used her scientific research and worked closely with authorities to promote long-term, sustainable energy projects and reduce Vietnam’s dependency on coal, helping reducing carbon dioxide emissions in Vietnam by 115 million tons a year.

She told that "Energy is important for economic development, and it also has a huge impact on the environment and the people. But there was very little involvement of civil society in the government’s energy plans."

In 2018 she became the first Vietnamese to honoured by the U.S.’s Goldman Environmental Foundation with the Goldman prize, an annual renowned award for grassroots environmental activists.

She was quoted as saying on the foundation's website: "Vietnam’s energy future is at a crossroads. Every decision and every dollar invested today will be felt in Vietnam and in earth’s climate for decades to come."

This year's 100 most influential climate activists included just two Southeast Asians, the other being Tri Rismaharini, the mayor of Surabaya city in Indonesia.

Rismaharini has transformed what was a city renowned for pollution and congestion into one with an emphasis on sustainability and rich in green spaces, and thanks to her there are now 11 landscaped parks in Surabaya.

Hanoi strives for smoke-free environment for tourism

Tourism managers and experts all affirmed the need to build a smoke-free environment to develop tourism in Hanoi at a conference in the capital city.

 

Contest launched to encourage youth involvement in environmental protection

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union launched a photo contest entitled ‘Challenge For Change’ on March 18, targeting youth union members and youngsters nationwide with a first prize worth up to VND10 million.

 

Various solutions to improve investment environment

(BGO) – The latest data from the Department of Planning and Investment (DoPI) and the Management Board controlling the industrial parks in the northern province of Bac Giang have proved for a dramatic change in investment attraction.

 

Further improving business and investment environment

(BGO) – Nguyen Van Linh,  Chairman of Bac Giang provincial People’s Committee (PPC) cum Head of the Steering Board for supporting and investing in enterprises in Bac Giang province (Steering Board) on January 15 chaired a meeting to review the status of local investment support and business development in 2018 as well as execute the tasks and solution in 2019.  

 

Vietnam spells out ambitious goal to improve business environment

Vietnam wants to climb 5-7 places in the World Bank’s ease of doing business rankings and reach the top four in Southeast Asia.

 

Source: VnExpress