Strategy for Vietnam to achieve net zero emissions by 2050

Environmental experts have outlined eight strategies for Vietnam to achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

In his speech at the training program "Improving the capacity of carbon neutral media communication" on the afternoon of October 15, Mr. Hoang Anh Dung, General Director of Intraco Company, presented in detail the definitions related to carbon emissions, and outlined strategies for Vietnam to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Delegates attending the training program. Photo: Tung Dinh.

Understanding carbon neutrality, net zero emissions

According to Mr. Hoang Anh Dung, Carbon Neutral is the balance between carbon emissions and carbon absorption. To achieve Carbon Neutral standards, companies have two options, either reduce their carbon emissions to zero or reduce carbon emissions to the maximum and balance emissions through offsetting by purchasing carbon credits.

Meanwhile, Net Zero or net zero emissions is achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions emitted and greenhouse gas emissions removed from the atmosphere. In addition, there is also a definition of negative carbon emissions as a state of bringing emissions below carbon neutrality.

One difference between carbon neutrality and net zero emissions is that carbon credits used for compensation in carbon neutrality include carbon reduction credits, carbon avoidance credits, and carbon removal credits. Meanwhile, with net zero emissions, carbon credits used for compensation can only be carbon removal credits.

Mr. Hoang Anh Dung, General Director of Intraco Company, shares about carbon neutrality and net zero emissions. Photo: Tung Dinh.

Strategy to achieve net zero emissions

To achieve net zero emissions by 2050, Mr. Hoang Anh Dung said, Vietnam first needs to increase renewable energy sources to > 90%. Second, increase the area of ​​planted forests each year to 1.71 million hectares.

The third strategy mentioned by Mr. Dung is to eliminate or minimize the use of HFCs, PFCs, SF₆, N₂O in industrial processes. At the same time, the organization recovers >90% of methane (CH₄) from landfills and livestock waste.

In agriculture , the next strategy is to use the alternate wetting and drying method on over 90% of the agricultural rice growing area. In addition, there is a need for solutions to utilize over >90% of agricultural by-products for energy generation and soil improvement purposes.

The next strategy is to accelerate projects to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere (Carbon Capture and Storage, Carbon Removal) and finally to accelerate the use of green hydrogen, biofuels for over 90% for furnaces and vehicles.

According to the General Director of Intraco Company, to achieve net zero emissions, businesses must reduce actual emissions across the value chain, transform technology, make large investments and change operating models and invest in carbon removal projects.

"This is a long-term process, requiring significant financial, technical and administrative resources," Mr. Hoang Anh Dung emphasized.

In fact, many businesses around the world start with carbon neutrality by measuring emissions, then offsetting them through carbon credits and then investing in emission reduction projects. According to Mr. Dung, carbon neutrality helps build a data foundation, emission management capacity, and prepare for the phase towards net zero emissions.

The boiler at the TH true MILK fresh milk factory uses biomass fuel (wood chips, sawdust) instead of fossil fuel to reduce emissions. Photo: Tung Dinh.

In Vietnam, TH Group is one of the few Vietnamese enterprises certified as Carbon Neutral according to the international standard PAS 2060:2014, applied to TH True Milk fresh milk products and TH True Water purified water. Mr. Dung's Intranco is the consulting unit implementing the program towards net zero emissions.

In the case of TH Group, the emissions scope includes direct and indirect emissions from energy. The total emissions are then neutralized through internal emission reduction and offset through technological innovation and clean energy use.

Currently, TH Group has committed to maintaining carbon neutral status at two member units until 2028 according to PAS 2060 standard, then neutralizing ISO 14068 standard. For the long-term vision, TH Group responds and accompanies the Vietnamese Government to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

On October 15-16, Agriculture and Environment Newspaper coordinated with TH Group to organize a training course on "Improving press communication capacity on carbon neutrality" in Nghe An.

Attending the opening session of the training program were Mr. Nguyen Nhu Khoi, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Council; Mr. Nguyen Tuan Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of Climate Change; Mr. Nguyen Danh Hung, Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Environment; Associate Professor, Dr. Mai Van Trinh, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Environment, Mr. Phan Van Thang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television; representatives of TH Group along with delegates, speakers and 40 journalists, reporters and editors from central and local press agencies.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/chien-luoc-de-viet-nam-co-the-dat-phat-thai-rong-bang-0-vao-nam-2050-d778935.html