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Event Reports

HOPE Project - 1st Hybrid Conference

Policies and practices to engage with building users in creating well-being and sustainable living environment in Vietnamese cities

On 20 April, the 3-year-cooperation project "Health-oriented policies and sustainable building practices to promote well-being and green urban governance in Vietnam (HOPE)” between Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung Vietnam (KAS), Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (HUCE) and the University of Hamburg (Germany) was kicked-off with a hybrid webinar. The topic was "Policies and practices to engage with building users in creating well-being and sustainable living environment in Vietnamese cities".

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Addressing at the event, HUCE Vice Rector Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hoang Giang of the University of Civil Engineering emphasized that this topic is essential for cities that are growing rapidly both in terms of population and construction activity in the world in general and in Vietnam in particular.

In the past 3 years, the Covid-19 pandemic has had great impacts on the way we live, work and reproduce. More than ever, we need to be more aware of the relationship between the way we build and manage urban spaces since that will significantly affect social development and human health.

Sharing at the webinar, Resident Representative of KAS Vietnam Mr. Florian Feyerabend expressed his concerns about the air quality in Vietnam and the impact of climate change on livelihood in urban and rural spaces.

The event attracted the participation of nearly 80 delegates onsite and online who are working in related sectors such as: construction, architecture, environment, city governance. Many aspects of green living and a healthy mental health in the era of urbanization were discussed enthusiastically by speakers, commentators and guests during the 3.5 hours. The main messages that were discussed and approved by the majority of comments include:

- There is a need for a trans-disciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to planning and governance;

- The community must be the center of all solutions. Any initiatives must involve the participation of community.

- More positive role models are needed. Environmentally-friendly behavior gets replicated.

With technical advice from experts in the fields of sustainable development and urban management, the project HOPE will be a platform for experts to exchange and share experiences in order to spread the philosophy of “health and sustainable construction practice” towards the whole society. In addition, the HOPE project aspires to a community-centered approach, helping the community's voice be heard.

This is the first event in a series of four that will be conducted by the project in 2022. The second is scheduled to take place on June 30, 2022 will approach aspects related to green building materials.

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Contact

Vu Thi Thu Phuong

Vu Phuong

Project Manager

Phuong.Vu@kas.de +84 24 3 7186194 /17 +84 24 37186197

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