Conference on Green Growth for Local Development - A Multidisciplinary Perspective: Multidisciplinary coordination towards sustainable development

On October 28, 2023, the Institute of Smart City and Management, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH - ISCM) in collaboration with Green+ Group Joint Stock Company organized the Conference on Green Growth for Local Development - a Multidisciplinary Perspective. The conference attracted the participation of many professors, experts and learners from Universities/Colleges, Research Institutes, and Departments as well as domestic and international businesses.

Attending the event, there was the presence of Architect, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Head of Department of General Planning Management, Department of Planning and Architecture; Mr. Dang Duc Thanh - Chairman of the Economists Club, Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry, General Director of Green+ Group Joint Stock Company; Dr. Trinh Tu Anh - Director of the Institute of Smart City and Management, Mr. Anthony Edwin Nahas - Co-founder of SmartBlock Communities in San Francisco and experts in the field of circular economy and design planning.

Overview of the Conference on Green Growth for Local Development - A Multidisciplinary Perspective

Facing a volatile world, green growth has become a premise for Vietnam's sustainable development goals. Taking people as the center, green growth reduces human sensitivity to climate change with solutions aimed at encouraging responsible lifestyles of each individual towards the community and society, especially green living culture. This will contribute to forming a civilized, modern society in harmony with nature and the environment, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions towards a long-term carbon-neutral economy.

As an activity within the strategy and orientation to promote the growth and sustainability of Ho Chi Minh City, the Conference on Green Growth for Local Development - A Multidisciplinary Perspective took place successfully. The event included content related to the planning and implementation of the Saigon River corridor development project with sharing from experts involved in research and proposals. In addition, the conference emphasized the important role of all disciplines, as well as the community, in the journey to help Ho Chi Minh City achieve green growth and move towards sustainable development.

Planning and implementation of the Saigon River corridor development project - "Awakening the Green Dragon" Project

Affirming the city's leading position, creating new opportunities for regional development and connection; and having 50 years of historical value, the Saigon River can be considered the "quintessence" of Ho Chi Minh City. Recognizing this special thing, Architect Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan affirmed that the moment of transformation of the Saigon River has come, with the development of the Saigon River corridor. When appropriate solutions and plans are implemented, this work can completely help the Ho Chi Minh City achieve short-term and long-term goals in the process of becoming a smart and sustainable city.

Architect Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan sharing Green Development from local infrastructure identity - The case of Saigon River Corridor Development

To achieve this goal, solutions must comply with 3 development principles specifically for the Saigon River as summarized by a group of professors and experts through long-term research of science projects along with practical cases. These principles address the following issues related to: (1) preserving and promoting cultural and historical identity and river advantages, (2) green transformation, sustainable resource management and regional linkages, and (3) symbiotic and harmonious development and adaptation to climate change. Based on these principles, 6 green transformation axes - economic - social - environmental development orientations are identified, closely linked to the vision of developing the Saigon River corridor.

One of the solutions mentioned at the conference was the project Awakening the Green Dragon, which was directly mentioned by Mr. Dang Duc Thanh. It can be seen that the "Awakening the Green Dragon" solution aims to implement the proposal to apply the principle of using minimal resources to maximize sustainable development goals, aiming to significantly increase the accumulated green areas and social infrastructure, to improve the quality of life and to create opportunities for river cultural activities.

Mr. Anthony Edwin Nahas sharing ideas for Green Growth: Transforming Cities into Ecological Blocks

Another solution involves converting cities into ecological blocks, as presented by Mr. Anthony Edwin Nahas. Through the creation of ecological blocks (Eco-blocks), city re-planning will directly ensure zero net emissions, along with durability, safety and assurance of finance needed for its implementation. However, transforming Ho Chi Minh City into eco-blocks will impact many factors, from upgrading and repairing buildings to coming up with designs that aim to solve integrated problems arising in the process of "greening" urban areas.

Combining multidisciplinary development, the roles of businesses and universities in raising awareness and action for sustainable development goals.

With 6 axes of green transformation - economic - social - environmental development orientations that Architect Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan has approved, requirements have been set for a multidisciplinary combination, spreading from Culture and Heritage, Commerce and Entertainment, Start-up - Innovation, Cooperation and Exhibition, Maritime and Transportation, Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystem Management, to Green Spaces and Recreation.

These requirements are clearly shown in the project "Awakening the Green Dragon". The project is a new way to mobilize all social resources, domestically and internationally, on the basis of the Triple Helix model, which is a close coordination between the government, universities, research institutes, businesses, and investment organizations to build projects along the Saigon River corridor using smart financial mechanisms and innovative ways in the spirit of Resolution 98 (Resolution 98/2023/QH15). This was mentioned by Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, in the book: Awakening the Green Dragon.

Particularly, regarding the role of Universities/Research Institutes, Dr. Trinh Tu Anh shared about strategic tasks in the green growth process. It can be seen that the activities of Universities/Research Institutes need to aim at raising awareness regarding sustainability, empowering action for sustainability, and acting sustainably, especially following the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (17 SDGs).

Dr. Trinh Tu Anh sharing the role of universities/research institutes in green growth

Dr. Trinh Tu Anh specifically mentioned the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) with its development strategies associated with sustainability, and the goal of becoming a Multidisciplinary and Sustainable UEH University. With appropriate strategies, UEH has set principles, including Training as the core, Living Campus as the tool, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) as the process, One UEH as an indispensable factor, and Commitment as the foundation for the transformation process, turning sustainable promises into reality.

Professors and experts discussing green growth issues.

At the end of the event, the speakers and participating experts sat down and discussed with each other about the issues presented. This is an open discussion with mixed perspectives from many experts. They all shared the same vision of promoting participation, creating a creative community, working together to achieve the goal of developing the Saigon River corridor, and moving towards the sustainable development goal of resilient cities in the face of future changes.

The event demonstrated the efforts of different disciplines at all levels along with the business community and people in the green growth journey, especially the role of businesses and universities in raising awareness and action for the sustainable development goal. With the participation of professors and experts in person or online, as well as students from universities, the event raised many issues that need discussions, debates, and in-depth research, aiming at optimal solutions to achieve green growth and sustainable development.

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