Roadmap to realise Vietnam’s commitments

At the COP26 climate conference, Vietnam made a commitment to bring net emissions to zero by the middle of the century, joined the pledge to reduce global methane emissions in 2030, compared to 2010, joined the Glasgow leaders’ declaration on forests and land use, and joined the Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement.

Vietnam’s strong commitments and responsible contributions, have been highly praised by the international community, opening new cooperation opportunities on low-emission growth, promoting the circular economy and adapting to climate change.

Following the Glasgow conference, an overall roadmap to realise climate targets, has been outlined by the Government and the first steps on that journey have also been made.

Speaking at a workshop held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) in December 2021, Deputy Director of the Department for Climate Change Pham Van Tan emphasised that low-emission development, will be the dominant trend for Vietnam to continue changing its development comprehensively, from a fossil fuel-based and resource-intensive model, to one with lower emissions.

Along with the Katowice climate package, adopted at COP24 in 2018, the Glasgow climate package adopted at COP26 and the implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement, are the foundation for countries to implement the Paris Agreement at home, promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and mobilise the participation of businesses, for investing in climate change adaptation.

Tan said in order to fulfil Vietnam’s commitments at COP26, the Government will soon introduce regulations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the ozone layer, including a list of sectors and greenhouse gas emitting facilities that must count their emissions, the national system to monitor and assess climate change adaptation activities and the plan to develop the carbon market in Vietnam.

In addition, ministries, sectors and localities, will review and adjust their relevant strategies and plans, in accordance with the net zero emission target by 2050, as well as proactively and actively enhance international cooperation on finance, technology and the capacity to implement the Paris Agreement and commitments of COP26.

With regards to the specific roadmap, MONRE will formulate a scheme on the tasks and solutions to implement the outcome of the COP26 conference, focusing on removing administrative obstacles and facilitating foreign investors, so as to capitalise on the opportunities to mobilise domestic and foreign resources, for low-emission development projects.

Notably, MONRE will update the national strategy on climate change until 2050, to include the net zero emission target and update the national plan on climate change adaptation, in line with the commitments at COP26 and create a national report on climate change adaptation, to affirm Vietnam’s efforts and priorities, as well as the need for support to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat and to formulate the programme to support the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution, in line with the commitments at COP26.

MONRE will work with the Ministry of Defence and the relevant ministries and localities, to conduct a marine survey so as to create a plan for offshore wind energy development, using carbon pricing instruments, including carbon taxes and a domestic carbon trading system, while raising the awareness and capacity of organisations, enterprises and individuals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for implementing “climate diplomacy” in order to mobilise international support, for the goal of enhancing the climate change adaptation capacity and achieving net zero emissions, increasing the role and position of Vietnam in multilateral organisations, mechanisms and forums.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment will enhance the mobilisation of resources and develop a green growth roadmap, associated with socio-economic development with a long-term vision, contributing to the committed goal: research and pilot the implementation of economic and financial tools to promote the roadmap. The ministry will support and address difficulties and obstacles, as well as create favourable conditions for investors, to carry out development projects, especially those in response to climate change and the development of renewable energy.

The Ministry of Finance will host and coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant agencies, to study and propose financial mechanisms and policies, to serve the transformation of projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to the Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM), in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Conduct, guiding the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will review the efforts to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture and forestry, ensuring the implementation of commitments, including reducing methane in agriculture by 2030, review projects to exchange carbon credits from forests, according to the principle of prioritising the use of credits to fulfil Vietnam’s commitments on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring benefits and encouraging investment in forest development projects, chaired the implementation of the Letter of Intent and the initiatives in the field of agriculture and rural development proposed at COP26, and develop a plan to implement the Glasgow Declaration on forests and land use.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade assumes the prime responsibility for reviewing and finalising the National Electricity Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045, in line with the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, and develop a plan to implement the Global Declaration on the transition of coal power to clean energy.

The Ministry of Transport will study the suitability of the participation of the declaration to end the production of petrol and diesel vehicles from now until 2040, develop a roadmap to convert vehicles using clean energy and report to the Prime Minister for his consideration and decision.

The Ministry of Construction will study and propose a roadmap for green urban infrastructure development, in line with commitments, and participate in initiatives related to the construction sector announced at COP26.

The Ministry of Science and Technology shall coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other ministries and agencies, to study the nuclear power development plans, implement the research of new energy development, such as hydrogen, wave and geothermal power, formulate and publicise national technical standards and regulations related to climate change response and perfect mechanisms and policies related to promoting technology transfer, in adaptation to climate change.

On December 21, 2021, the Prime Minister signed Decision No.2157/QD-TTg, establishing a National Steering Committee for implementing Vietnam's commitments at COP26, marking Vietnam’s first step in realising its ambitious goals.

The Steering Committee is responsible for supporting the Government and Prime Minister in directing and coordinating the implementation of Vietnam’s commitments at COP26, as well as strengthening the coordination of climate change response activities among ministries, agencies and localities, and the cooperation between Vietnam and international organisations, development partners and other countries.

Chairing the first meeting of the Steering Committee on January 13, PM Pham Minh Chinh, who is also Head of the Steering Committee, stated that the response to climate change, reduction of carbon emissions and sustainable development are the irreversible trends with high determination and great goals of the international community. This is also an important issue for Vietnam - a developing country and one of the countries most affected by climate change.

The Government leader said that the implementation of Vietnam’s commitments at COP26, is in line with the programme of economic restructuring, as well as the world trend of green economy, circular economy and digital economy.

“Fighting climate change is a big problem for the whole world. Since it is a global issue, a global approach is required. The issue also affects every person and business, so it must be accessible to all people and businesses. People and businesses are both the centre, the subject, the target and the driving force of climate change combat.”

The Prime Minister requested members of the Steering Committee, ministries and sectors to review and supplement institutions, formulate strategies and plans, in addition to building a mechanism to attract financial resources, technology, and management experience, to fulfil commitments on climate change.

A master plan must be promulgated in 2022, which will feature the goals, viewpoints, tasks and solutions, as well as the implementation plans and the mobilisation of resources, to submit to authorities for consideration. Ministries and sectors must actively develop their own plans on combating climate change and fulfilling their commitments.

The Prime Minister suggests the concentration on implementing eight contents

At the meeting, the Steering Committee discussed the key tasks of implementing Vietnam's commitments at COP26, proposed orientations for the implementation of related projects, outlined the need for cooperation with countries, international organisations and development partners, and reviewed and amended mechanisms and policies, to receive credit and investment, in climate change response and energy transformation.

Just a few days after the first meeting of the Steering Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh signed Decision No. 01/2022/QD-TTg, promulgating a list of sectors and facilities that must conduct greenhouse gas inventory.

Accordingly, there are six areas where greenhouse gas inventories must be carried out, including: energy, transportation, construction, industrial processes, agriculture-forestry and the use of land and waste. Also, 1,662 establishments in the industry and trade, 70 facilities in the transport sector, 104 establishments in the construction industry, and 76 establishments in the natural resources and environmental sector, must carry out an inventory of greenhouse gases.

International development partners have expressed their desire and commitment to accompany Vietnam, in the implementation of climate commitments after COP26. The commitment to bring net emissions to “zero” and the commitment to reduce methane emissions, have sent a strong signal to the international community, opening up the opportunity, to take advantage of the shift of global financial resources for low-emission development, into Vietnam.

Speaking at the conference, announcing the results of the COP26 and actions of Vietnam in December last year, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha emphasised that as a developing country with limited resources, while suffering many impacts of climate change, Vietnam is still determined to work with the international community, to respond to global climate change and wishes to receive cooperation from the international community, on issues related to technology transfer, knowledge sharing, and financial contributions, to carry out this noble but extremely difficult task.

The minister said that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, is actively discussing to sign cooperation programmes and plans, with development partners and countries, in order to realise zero emissions. The minister called on countries, domestic and foreign organisations and the business community, to soon implement cooperation activities and join hands with Vietnam, to respond to climate change, in order to achieve the commitments that Vietnam made at COP26.

Participating international delegates at the workshop congratulated Vietnam on its strong commitments within the framework of COP26, and affirmed to support the country, in turning those commitments into reality.

Production manager: VIET ANH, THAO LE
Content, Design: VAN TOAN
Photo: Reuters, MPI, VNA, Australian Embassy