Vietnam maps out national climate change response

Strong determination

On April 26, a conference was held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in coordination with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Hanoi to collect ideas on the draft national strategy on climate change until 2050.

The draft strategy introduces groups of tasks and solutions. The first relates to proactive adaptation to climate change, including improvement of resilience and adaptive capacity of natural, socioeconomic systems, ensuring sustainable livelihoods, controlling the decline and degradation, and recovery of natural resources, development of sustainable smart agriculture and ensuring food security, forest and ecosystem protection, climate-smart infrastructure development, healthcare, and ensuring social security and gender equality.

The draft national strategy on climate change introduces greenhouse gas emissions reduction tasks and solutions

Tasks and solutions to minimize damage caused by natural disasters and extreme climate events due to climate change include early forecast and warnings, development of natural disaster prevention works, and relocating people in high-risk areas vulnerable to climate change.

Greenhouse gas emissions reduction tasks and solutions include control of greenhouse gas emissions in the fields of energy, agriculture, forestry, land use, waste management, industrial processes and the use of industrial products.

Another group of tasks and solutions includes construction and improvement of climate change institutions and policies before 2030, raising awareness of and encouraging community response to climate change control efforts, human resource development, scientific research and technological development, innovation, mobilization of financial resources for climate change response, and strengthening international cooperation and climate diplomacy.

Le Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said the draft strategy reflects the transformation in Vietnam's response to climate change, with a roadmap to realize the country's commitments at COP26, as well as ways to achieve the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The draft strategy has been sent to relevant ministries and agencies and scientists nationwide for their opinions, he said, adding his hope that international organizations and development partners would continue to support the country in implementing the blueprint.

Transparent policies needed

Vietnam’s strong commitments and responsible contributions made at COP26 have been highly appreciated by the wider international community and have opened up many opportunities for cooperation in low-emission growth and climate change adaptation.

Vietnam aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to adapt to climate change

The draft national strategy on climate change until 2050 aims to strengthen the country’s capacity to adapt to climate change, reduce the vulnerability and losses caused by climate change, and complete the target of net-zero emissions. At the same time, it aims to speed up the transformation of the economic growth model, enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of the economy, and making positive and responsible contributions to international efforts to confront global climate change.

UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen said she hopes the long-term strategy will create a widespread and sustainable foundation for other important climate change plans and policies. She recommended that Vietnam formulate a coherent climate change law and speed up implementation of adaptation measures, thus strengthening the resilience of society, especially of communities directly impacted by climate change. A green and fair transition roadmap is also needed, as well as transparent policies on public and private financial flows into green investment projects and programs, she said.

Meanwhile, Weert Börner, Chargé d'affaires of the German Embassy in Hanoi, said the strategy will make an important contribution to the national discussions on net-zero emissions, adding that the discussions should be continued once the strategy is approved by the prime minister in 2022. He affirmed the German government is determined to continue supporting Vietnam in its necessary transformation process to reach net-zero emissions in a fair and sustainable fashion.