Environmental pollution costs 5.5% of GDP

The Vietnamese economy lost about US$3.9 billion out of US$71 billion of GDP in 2007 and around US$4.2 billion in US$76 billion GDP in 2008 due to environmental pollution.

Each year, the country has to spend some US$780 million on pollution-related community healthcare services.

In addition, environmental pollution also causes losses in human lives, crops and fishing.

Statistic data showed that six million cases were recorded over the last four years due to water pollution.

Environmental pollution in general and air pollution in particular have affected negatively the domestic tourism industry and increased costs for environmental improvement.

Besides environmental pollution, every year climate change also costs Viet Nam 5% of its GDP and the figure would rise to 11% in 2030, according to a report prepared by the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG)./.

By Khanh Phuong