Nurturing life for the future with clean energy

DNHN - Vietnam has just endured Typhoon No. 3, leaving behind a trail of destruction and loss that makes us all feel small against Mother Nature. It is time for a change, time to nurture and protect our living environment.

When sunshine and rain are no longer “Acts of God”

According to Government Resolution 143 on September 17, Typhoon No. 3 had an extensive impact, covering all 26 localities in the northern regions and Thanh Hoa; it severely affected these areas, causing prolonged heavy rain and leading to disastrous floods and severe landslides in many localities.

Typhoon No. 3 inflicted severe damage, devastating human lives, property, crops, livestock, and socio-economic infrastructures. It significantly affected the physical and mental well-being of the people, disrupted business activities, especially in agriculture, services, and tourism.

As of September 17, there have been 329 reported deaths and missing persons, with 1,929 injured. Approximately 234,000 houses, 1,500 educational institutions, and many infrastructure facilities have collapsed or been damaged. There have been 726 dike incidents, over 307,000 hectares of rice, crops, and fruit trees inundated and damaged.

These numbers speak volumes about the tremendous destruction caused by Typhoon No. 3. What remains is sorrow and loss that may never fully heal.

The entire political system is stepping in, mobilizing resources to support residents and businesses to quickly stabilize their lives and restore production. From the banks' policies of debt deferral to the direct monetary assistance provided to the people, from the resettlement areas built by businesses to the small contributions sent by individuals to compatriots—all demonstrate the spirit of national solidarity in overcoming adversity.

Cannot leave it to chance

Climate change is becoming increasingly evident with the phenomena of global warming, ice melting, rising sea levels, and subsequent flooding. Vietnam has just borne the brunt of a ferocious Yagi, and who can guarantee that such a storm will not strike again?

We cannot predict whether another great storm will strike in the future, and if it does, we cannot avoid it. What we need to do is nurture the symbiotic relationship with life, green the forests, and convert the barren hills into expanses teeming with foliage. Only when trees take root deeply does the geological layer become stable. Trees stand tall to block strong winds, their roots embrace the hills, protecting humanity from unexpected natural shifts—something that concrete and steel cannot achieve.

“Our homeland with silver seas and green fields,” but if we merely enjoy this bountifulness without nurturing and protecting it, future generations will be left with regret, perhaps even resentment, should the horrifying tragedy of Nu Village (Lao Cai) repeat itself.

Facing Mother Nature, everything seems small, but have small individuals genuinely maintained the land, kept the forests, and protected the living environment? With earth and rocks suddenly collapsing and burying dozens of houses, flash floods sweeping away everything, it is the time for humans to feel fear. Fear to change how we treat Mother Nature, to comprehend the importance of sustainable development.

The trend of sustainable development, including the use of renewable energy, has been incorporated into the Electricity Plan VIII. With over 3,260 km of coastline and over 3,000 large and small islands, including the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, Vietnam is considered one of the countries with significant potential and advantages in marine and island resources. Additionally, the tropical monsoon climate with varying solar radiation intensities in different regions is an immense advantage for exploiting clean energy; solar power, offshore wind power, nearshore wind power, etc.

Solar radiation in Vietnam is an invaluable and inexhaustible clean resource. This treasure allows us to freely harness it to develop clean electricity, ensuring national energy security, and gradually reducing the proportion of resource-intensive types of electricity, thereby alleviating environmental pressure.

To vigorously transform energy sources for the protection of sustainable environmental development, more decisive policies and directives are needed from the Party and Government.

Quang Huy