Name: Tran Thi Thanh Tam

Class: KT43A
Student code: KT43A-032-1620

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

Basically, sustainable development is a long-term solution to how we plan our

indefinite progress in the future without causing damage to the environment so as
to guarantee a safe habitat for the next generations, who will continue to develop
their economies, societies, and care for the environment with a similar ideal in
mind. It satisfies our needs without sabotaging the opportunities of others. The
concept covers a broad scope of matters such as environmental, social, and
economic development which continues to prove its importance in our lives as it
affects all aspects of them.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
During the UN Sustainable Development Summit of September 2015, which
took place in New York, the Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development was adopted by the 193 countries belonging to the UN
General Assembly and clearly outlined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
and 169 targets which are associated to them. They tackle social, economic,
personal, physical and environmental issues which, again, emphasizes the all-
encompassing nature of sustainable development. These goals proposed by the UN
have come under scrutiny, however, for two main, quite different, reasons. Ruth
Kattumuri of the LSE Asia Research Centre & India Observatory has criticized the
goals for not putting enough emphasis on social issues, whilst the goals regarding
economic and environmental security are extensively covered. She also states that
the UN undermines the gravity of the problem of human trafficking which is
estimated to be a $32 billion industry which exploits and violates the human rights
of hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children each year. Child abuse is
another problem that the SDG’s set out by the UN fail to tackle.
 On the other side, many argue that the sustainable development goals cover
too broad an area of issues and should be more focused if they are to be achieved
over the next twelve years. Some targets could also be said to be rather idealistic,
such as the first target – No Poverty. Jonathan Tanner of the Guardian went as far
as to say: “We’re going to have to pretty much end violent conflict, experience a
Damascene climate conversion, sustain high rates of economic growth, avoid any
recession in poor countries and make sure nobody who is disabled or seriously ill
sees their income drop to less than $1.25 a day.” There is a lot of truth to what Mr.
Tanner wrote, however, some of the SDG’s out to be taken with a pinch of salt and
be treated as ideals which we aim to achieve. They may not necessarily be fully
achievable due to the nature of humans, nevertheless, the closer we get to them, the
better.
In short, the SDG’s set out by the UN in 2015 are, indeed, very good
guidelines, however, their achievability may not be feasible in our current
environment of violence, corruption and wide gaps in the wealth of developed and
less developed countries. We should only hope that we come to a day when they
will stop being guidelines and become our reality.
Challenge in sustainable development in Vietnam
1. Environment pollution
Vietnam is facing big challenges in terms of environmental pollution caused
by natural agents and anthropogenic activities. Environmental pollution in Vietnam
is present in air, water and soil environments in many areas with contaminants
including total suspended particles (TSP), organic substances, heavy metals,
nutrients including ammonium, phosphate exceeding the allowable values of
national standard. One of the most important causes of environmental pollution is
the legal powers of environmental protection organizations, especially the
environmental police force, not strong enough. In addition, the awareness of the
people about environmental protection is very weak. Improving the system of laws
on environmental protection, including sanctions that are strong enough to prevent
violations, is of the most importance to enhance the effectiveness of environmental
management and protection in Vietnam. On the other hand, educating people and
even school children about environmental protection is a very meaningful activity
to reduce the pressures and challenges of environmental management and
protection in Vietnam.
2. Social inequality
 According to new data, Vietnam’s richest citizens can earn roughly 5,000
times more money in an hour than the poorest Vietnamese spend in a day. The
data, revealed on Thursday at an event held by Oxfam Vietnam in Ha Noi, shows
how big the inequality gap between the richest and poorest has become in the
country. The report, compiled by Oxfam’s Nguyen Tran Lam and his colleagues,
said the richest man in Vietnam earns in a day more than the poorest Vietnamese
earn in 10 years. His wealth is so huge that he could spend US$1 million every day
for six years before exhausting it.
In 2014, there were 210 super-rich individuals (each owned property valued
over $30 million), and their combined wealth was around $20 billion, equal to 12
per cent of the country’s GDP and a half of HCM City’s GDP. The number of the
super-rich individuals is predicted to reach 403 by 2025, under London firm’s
Knight Frank’s estimation.
Reasons for the inequality include economic development and ineffective use
of funds to reduce poverty, participants at the event said.
Impacts of inequalities
According to the report, economic inequality has triggered inequalities of
voice and opportunity. The Country Director of Oxfam in Vietnam, said the
inequality has made ethnic minorities, small-scale farmers, migrant workers and
women more likely to be poor, more likely to suffer the most from discrimination
and more likely to be unable to access to public services or participate in decision-
making processes.
There are significant disparities between ethnic groups. The Kinh majority
has tended to have higher living standards than others. Other ethnic groups only
account for 15 per cent of the country’s population but make for 70 per cent of the
country’s extremely poor. Unequal access to health service is also holding back
disadvantaged groups. For example, pregnant women from poor households are
three times more likely to go without antenatal care compared to other pregnant
women. Research from the report also showed that disadvantaged citizens lack
information and skills to understand tax processes, budget issues and other
economic decisions.