In order to recognize and honor outstanding achievements of enterprises in environmental protection works, every two years, Binh Duong province classifies and publishes the Green Book. Recently, Provincial People's Committee has held the 5th (from 2010) publication of Green Book.
Mai Hung Dung (6th from the left), Permanent Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee, awards certificates of merit to enterprises named in Green Book 2018.
More rigorous requirements
According to leaders of Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE), enterprises’ spirit of responsibility has been improved over the years. The companies named in the Green Book have fully expressed their roles and responsibilities towards the community, and actively contributed to successful implementation of prevention and improvement of environmental quality in Binh Duong province. It can be said that enterprises listed in Green Book 2018 were good examples in the environmental protection work of the province in recent years. In 2010, for the first time Binh Duong organized the publication of Green Book, only 32 enterprises were honored, then in 2018 this number increased to 66 enterprises. It is worth mentioning that the requirements for enterprises to be named in the Green Book have been increasingly stringent.
This year, enterprises registered for the Green Book were assessed through 2 criteria. Accordingly, criterion 1: the company complies with environmental standards and industrial hygiene requirements. The measurement and analysis results of all sources (waste water, gas, noise, vibration...) must meet all standards and regulations before being discharged into the environment and well implement industrial hygiene (maximum 50 points).
Criteria 2: Assessment of compliance with environmental management dossiers and related issues, such as certificates of completion of works, environmental protection measures; having permits for discharge, exploitation of underground water and surface water according to regulations... (maximum score of 50). Besides, there are bonus points (3 points) for the winners of environmental awards, active participation in environmental protection activities, community services.
According to the Decision No. 03/2011/QD-UBND dated January 27, 2011 of Provincial People's Committee, there is no time limit for the recognition of Green Book. The frequency of publication is 1 or 2 years. This decision does not specify the timeline for assessing violations of environmental protection or reflecting environmental protection. The measurement results of waste source with the main environmental parameters up to standards and norms will reach the maximum point, or the green area is only 10% of the area ... But according to the new decision - Decision No. 05/QD-UBND dated March 5, 2018 by Provincial People's Committee, recognition criteria are more difficult. For example, the time limit for publication of Green Book is once every two years, only one of emission sources with pollution parameters exceeding standards or not performing industrial hygiene, then all points of this criterion will be deducted; In addition, the area of greeneries must reach at least 20%. Provincial People's Committee commends only the most excellent enterprises (with a total score of 100 or above) and well observing other regulations such as taxation, social insurance and trade union activities.
Nguyen Hong Nguyen, Deputy Director of DONRE, said that maintaining the publication of the Green Book aimed to honor enterprises well implementing environmental protection, changing the perception of enterprises, who have not implemented environmental protection... Since then, the business community will join hands with provincial leaders to step up the environmental protection movement and strive to build a healthy living environment for the community.
To intensify environmental protection
Binh Duong Green Book 2018 acknowledged the great efforts of enterprises in the province. This list has companies that have many times appeared in the Green Book, namely VN FrieslandCampina, VN Yakult, Vietnam Dairy Products Company, Asia Food Company…
According to DONRE, relevant departments, localities in the province will continue to enhance the propagation and communication about evaluation and classification criteria of the Green Book under the Decision No. 05/2018/QD-UBND dated March 5, 2018 of Provincial People's Committee among enterprises. In addition, the department will develop a plan to promote winners of Green Book Award on Binh Duong Radio and Television Station on weekly environmental programs... then more and more enterprises would be interested in environmental protection.
On the side of enterprises, it is necessary to maintain good results, strive for environmental protection works; work out plans for prevention, response and remedy of environmental incidents in production and business activities. Enterprises should heighten the achieved results, especially the propagation in the province.
Mai Hung Dung, Member of Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee, affirmed that Binh Duong Green Book was the assessment, respect of the province for enterprises’ environmental protection, sense of responsibility towards environmental protection in the province. Additionally, he asked DONRE to coordinate closely with relevant departments, People's Committees of districts, towns, city to boost propagation and dissemination of evaluation and classification criteria of the Green Book in order for businesses to understand, for the province to have more and more companies in the Green Book as well as increase the participation and monitoring of community. In addition, related departments develop propagation campaigns to honor enterprises in Binh Duong Green Book on mass media; Research and counsel Provincial People's Committee to design preferential policies for businesses listed in the Green Book.
Provincial People's Committee Permanent Vice Chairman Mai Hung Dung also said that with the efforts of all governmental levels, enterprises and community, socio-economic development in the province would follow closely the orientation towards sustainable development; socio-economic growth in the province always goes hand in hand with environmental protection.
Reported by Xuan Vi – Translated by Ngoc Huynh
