[{"bbox": [85, 179, 1124, 284], "category": "Text", "text": "A just and inclusive transition towards circularity calls for a stronger participation of women and inclusion of persons with disabilities across the *entire* circular economy spectrum¹¹. Accordingly, the Action will promote for more responsible business conducts, which address the gender gaps and promote the inclusion person with disabilities."}, {"bbox": [174, 300, 427, 331], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [85, 346, 1124, 507], "category": "Text", "text": "Viet Nam is among the top five countries most affected by climate change¹². It has an extensive coastline and diverse but generally warm climate including temperate and tropical regions. The country's low-lying coastal and river delta regions are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels. Viet Nam faces potentially significant social and economic impacts across multiple regions and sectors. It was estimated that climate change would reduce national income by up to 3.5% by 2050. Without effective adaptation and disaster risk reduction efforts, multidimensional poverty and inequality are likely to increase."}, {"bbox": [85, 516, 1124, 678], "category": "Text", "text": "Viet Nam is ranked the third in the South-east Asia region and the 15th in the world in terms of population size, with an estimated population of 100,3 million in 2023. Approximately one third of whom live in the metropolitan areas of its two mega-cities, Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh cities. Viet Nam has been experiencing fast urbanisation. At the end of 2023, urban area accounts for 42% of the total area, hosting 38.1% of the total population¹³. Growing population and rapid urbanisation have increased the demand for natural resources and pressure on the environment and reduce climate change resilience by depleting ecosystems."}, {"bbox": [85, 689, 1124, 902], "category": "Text", "text": "Against the background of economic growth and rising average incomes, Viet Nam is facing growing inequality. The richest are taking a disproportionate share of income and the gap between the richest 20% and the rest has been widening since 2004¹⁴. The poorest households are increasingly concentrated in low-income agricultural activities and these groups risk falling further behind and being less connected to the more vibrant sectors of the economy¹⁵. From a gender perspective, job opportunities have been mostly inclusive as the rate of women working in Viet Nam is 73%¹⁶, much higher than the regional peers. However, with a much greater share of care responsibilities due to social norms, women have less freedom to pursue more labour-intensive occupations, while family business income for women is lower than for men because of fewer hours worked."}, {"bbox": [85, 915, 295, 941], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### The Industrial sector"}, {"bbox": [85, 952, 1124, 1061], "category": "Text", "text": "Industrialisation is the central piece of the country's export-led growth model. Viet Nam has updated its regulatory framework to attract a significant amount of foreign investment in the country (USD 36.61 billion in 2023). The share of processing and manufacturing industry in national GDP increased from 18.82% in 2005 to 24.76% in 2022, representing one of the most important components of the economy."}, {"bbox": [85, 1072, 1124, 1339], "category": "Text", "text": "While industrialization has been supporting economic growth, it has also negatively impacted the environment and natural capital. Viet Nam is one of the most energy-intensive countries in the Southeast Asia. The energy consumption increased four-fold over the past two decades, largely due to industrial growth. The industrial sector accounts for more than 50% of the total energy consumption in 2023 and the demand continues to rise. Emissions have multiplied fivefold in the last 20 years—largely fuelled by significant growth in electricity demand. By 2030, Viet Nam's overall green house gas (GHG) emission is projected to increase five-fold, per capita emissions four-fold and the carbon intensity of GDP by 20%. Promoting circular principles in the industrial sector would improve resource-efficiency, reduce the consumption of virgin materials, and increase the input of renewable energy and would be one of the means to reduce carbon emissions from manufacturing processes."}, {"bbox": [85, 1349, 1124, 1456], "category": "Text", "text": "The rapid urbanisation and industrialisation in coastal areas has contributed to the deterioration of coastal water quality. Approximately 30% of the effluent from industrial activities in Viet Nam (around 1 million m3/day) is discharged directly and untreated¹⁷. The consequence of this practice is an increased pollution in surface and ground water as well as marine ecosystems due to toxic substances, with negative impacts for agriculture,"}, {"bbox": [85, 1492, 802, 1515], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹¹ Why adopting a gender-inclusive approach towards Circular Economy matters, UNIDO 2022"}, {"bbox": [85, 1516, 438, 1540], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹² The WB, Climate Risk country profile, 2021"}, {"bbox": [85, 1541, 445, 1562], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹³ General Statistical Office of Viet Nam, 2024"}, {"bbox": [85, 1564, 816, 1587], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁴ https://www-cdn.oxfam.org/s3fs-public/file://bp-vietnam-inequality-120117-en.pdf"}, {"bbox": [85, 1587, 596, 1611], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁵ The World Bank, Viet Nam poverty and equity assessment, 2022"}, {"bbox": [85, 1611, 596, 1633], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁶ The World Bank, Viet Nam poverty and equity assessment, 2022"}, {"bbox": [85, 1633, 1010, 1678], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁷ Marina Sabelfeld \"Optimization potentials for wastewater treatment and energy savings in industrial zones in Viet Nam\": Case studies, p. 1. Case studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 5(2022) 100169"}, {"bbox": [1034, 1678, 1143, 1703], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 8 of 28"}]