2 policy setting typically do not consider cross sectoral impacts For example, energy policy would influence the water usage for food, energy, and other economic sectors, which would eventually impact[.]
2 policy setting typically not consider cross-sectoral impacts For example, energy policy would influence the water usage for food, energy, and other economic sectors, which would eventually impact on water intensity, availability, and water stress of the country, energy consumption, affordability, intensity, and efficiency as well The discussion about food, water, and energy interconnection or nexus is particularly relevant for Vietnam, as the country currently faces significant economic-growth pressures The critical question is that how a natural resource-centric and external-factorreliant economy like Vietnam will achieve and sustain the aspirational economic growth rates of between 7% and 8% per annum over the period 2015-2030 (Vietnam National Assembly, 2016; World Bank & MPI Vietnam, 2016) – in the backdrop of limited availability of indigenous energy, water and land resources; uncertainty of commodity prices and foreign investment Additionally, the environmental impacts associated with resource use are likely to come into conflict with the country’s Green Growth Strategy1 that aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions over the next 15 years “Shaking off the legacy of colonization and long-brutalizing conflicts” is tough, and embracing an uninterrupted pathway to prosperity and modernity, perhaps even tougher for Vietnam (Vu-Thanh, Tu-Anh, 2014), which spent millenniums fighting against foreign invasion by China, France and United State of America - to achieve independence from France in 1945, and reunification in 1975 Since the introduction of “Đổi Mới” (Economic Reform) in 1986, Vietnam has successfully transformed from among the “world’s poorest, war-ravaged, closed and centrally planned economy”, to a middleincome economy with open markets and deeply integrated into global economy (World Bank, 2016; MPI Vietnam, 2016) During the period 1986-2013, for example, despite serious economic fluctuations and downturns caused by the collapse of Soviet Union in early 1991, Asian financial crisis in 1997, and recent Global Financial Crisis in 2007, economic growth of Vietnam has been stable and inclusive with average annual GDP growth rate ranging between 5.3% to 8.5% (MGI, 2012; World Bank, 2017) Vietnam’s National Green Growth Strategy was issued by Prime Minister under Decision No 1393/QĐTTg, dated 25 Sept, 2012, aims to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions by 8%-10% during 2012-2020, 1.5%-2% towards 2030 Further details about “Đổi Mới” (Economic Reform) can be found in Porter, Gareth (1993) and Le Binh P (2005)