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Author	Assoc Prof Nguyen Toan Thang
Organisation/Institution	Hanoi Law University
Country	VIETNAM
Panel	Environmental Law
Title	Ensuring a Healthy Environment Toward Sustainable Development: An Analysis of Legislation to Implement the Constitution in Vietnam
Abstract	Over the past decade, the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment has gained universal recognition, solidified by UN resolutions in 2021 and 2022. Vietnam's 2013 Constitution, by formally embedding this right (Article 43), signals a pivotal moment for the nation, integrating it into global normative currents and demonstrating its commitment to environmental stewardship. This constitutional entrenchment, however, presents Vietnam, and indeed many developing Asian nations, with a profound dual challenge: operationalizing this fundamental right for its citizens while simultaneously pursuing rapid industrialization and socio-economic progress under the paradigm of sustainable development. This complex interplay places the country at a critical juncture where constitutional aspirations meet the realities of a transitioning developmental state. This article posits that realizing the constitutional right to a healthy environment in Vietnam is not merely a matter of legal enforcement but a far more intricate exercise in balancing the three interdependent pillars of sustainable development: economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection. It argues that while Vietnamese legislation, particularly the comprehensive Law on Environmental Protection (LEP) 2020, has made significant strides, an implementation gap reveals a structural tendency to prioritize short-term economic objectives over long-term environmental integrity and social justice, a tension characteristic of many Southeast Asian economies. Employing a methodology that combines doctrinal legal analysis, comparative review against international and ASEAN regional standards, and public policy analysis, this paper critically examines Vietnam's environmental legal architecture. It identifies systemic gaps hindering the harmonization of sustainable development pillars and offers targeted recommendations to strengthen enforcement and foster genuine public participation. Ultimately, this research contributes to "Empowering Asia’s Rise" by providing insights into how Asian legal frameworks can better align developmental trajectories with constitutional environmental rights and regional integration goals for a more sustainable and just future.
Biography	NGUYEN TOAN THANG Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Toan Thang is a leading scholar in international law and comparative law, currently serving as the Director of the Academic Quality and Assessment Office at Hanoi Law University, Vietnam. He holds a Ph.D. in International Law from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium), where his doctoral research focused on the legal consequences of coastal artificial extension under international law, laying the foundation for his long-standing expertise in the Law of the Sea. With over two decades of academic and research experience, Assoc. Prof. Thang has cultivated a profound specialization in public international law, with a significant focus on international environmental and climate change law. His extensive body of work demonstrates a deep engagement with the legal challenges at the intersection of environmental protection, climate action, and international governance. He has authored numerous high-impact publications in prestigious Scopus-indexed journals, including the Carbon & Climate Law Review and the Brazilian Journal of International Law. His recent research critically examines pressing contemporary issues, including the operation of carbon markets, the nexus between climate change and food security in Asia, and the obligation to protect the marine environment under UNCLOS. As a seasoned editor and author, Assoc. Prof. Thang has contributed to and led major publication projects with esteemed international publishers like Brill, Lexington Books, and Springer. His research is characterized by a rigorous, interdisciplinary, and practice-oriented approach, making him a distinguished voice on climate change law and policy from an Asia-Pacific perspective.