Transport industry pioneers green energy transition

Towards a green economy and sustainable emission reduction, by 2050 the transport industry will complete a green transformation plan on all 'fronts'.

Big goals

The Government has long identified green energy transition as the most fundamental and important task in the process of implementing green growth goals as well as Vietnam's commitments at the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26).

To promote the greening process of the transport sector, in 2022 the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 876/QD-TTg approving the Action Program on green energy conversion, carbon and methane emissions reduction of the transport sector. It outlines a specific 2-phase roadmap for each type of transport with the overall goal of developing a green transport system towards net greenhouse gas emissions of "0" by 2050.

Transport is pioneering the green energy transition to reduce carbon and methane emissions. Photo: Cao Son.

Phase 1, from 2022 to 2030, the fields of roads, railways, inland waterways, and maritime will focus on promoting the production, assembly, import, and conversion of electric and green energy vehicles. In parallel, developing electric charging infrastructure to meet the needs of people and businesses. At the same time, encouraging the conversion of loading and unloading equipment at stations, wharves, and bus stations to electric and green energy equipment.

In aviation alone, simultaneously implement all potential measures of the industry to reduce CO2 emissions. From 2027, research on the use of alternative fuels to supplement a portion of aviation fuel. By 2030, complete the database system on energy use and fuel consumption of aviation enterprises.

Phase 2, from 2031 to 2050, gradually limit and stop the production, assembly and import of vehicles and equipment using fossil fuels nationwide. By 2050, 100% of road motor vehicles, construction vehicles, locomotives, carriages, ships, boats, airplanes... equipment at stations, ports, wharves, bus stations will be converted to use electricity and green energy.

Experts say this is a huge, long-term and extremely difficult goal for Vietnam. However, if completed, it will open a new period of sustainable and prosperous development for the economy and society, bringing the country to stand shoulder to shoulder with developed countries in the region and the world.

Recently, on November 19, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha signed and issued Decision No. 2530/QD-TTg approving the National Action Plan on pollution control and air quality management for the period 2026 - 2030, with a vision to 2045. In which, it requires 100% of vehicles participating in road traffic to be managed and controlled for emissions. The urban transport infrastructure system is synchronously completed, meeting the orientation of gradually increasing the rate of green transport and public transport (GTCC); the GTCC vehicle system is invested, upgraded, and converted to use clean energy, green energy, and is environmentally friendly; provinces and cities carry out the conversion and upgrade of public transport according to the Action Program on green energy conversion, reducing carbon and methane emissions of the transport sector before.

The transport sector aims to have 100% of vehicles using green fuel by 2050. Photo: Cao Son.

Transport expert, Master Le Trung Hieu, commented that transport is the lifeblood of the economy, a network connecting all aspects of life, a driving force for social development. To have a green economy, green blood vessels are indispensable. Therefore, green transformation in the transport industry is a top priority, a pioneering field.

“Green energy transition is also an opportunity for the transport sector to develop synchronously, modernly, sustainably, keeping up with world trends. Green transformation of transport is an order and also a responsibility of the Government, ministries, branches, localities and people nationwide,” said Mr. Le Trung Hieu.

Act quickly and decisively

Immediately after the Government had clear directions, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and relevant localities and ministries quickly and decisively took action. First, research, amend and supplement the system of legal documents, first of all specialized laws, which integrate the contents, regulations and international commitments related to green energy conversion, greenhouse gas emission reduction; supplement, amend and perfect regulations on traffic participation conditions, business conditions, age of use, registration and inspection to gradually reduce the number and gradually eliminate the total number of vehicles and transport equipment using fossil fuels.

Industries are building and promulgating mechanisms and policies to encourage, support and facilitate businesses to improve their financial and technical capacity to invest in infrastructure, facilities, equipment, and develop human resources to meet the innovation towards switching to using electricity, green energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions...

Hanoi is promoting the replacement of fossil fuel buses with environmentally friendly electric buses. Photo: Vo Viet.

In particular, the Politburo issued four key Resolutions, including: Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025 on international integration in the new situation; Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW on innovation in law-making and enforcement to meet the requirements of national development in the new era; Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW dated May 4, 2025 on private economic development... These are very important Resolutions that open up corridors to attract scientific and technological advances, international experience, remove institutional obstacles, and especially call for social resources to invest in the country's green transport development goals.

Enterprises that manufacture and assemble vehicles using clean energy, invest in high-speed railways (electric), invest in green energy infrastructure, etc. have a wide open corridor to accompany and make useful contributions to the country's green and sustainable economy.

Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Construction Dao Viet Long shared that, implementing the Prime Minister's direction, Hanoi is one of the leading localities in the country in green transport transformation. The Hanoi People's Committee has directed departments, branches, communes and wards to closely follow the direction of the Politburo and the Government, to do whatever can be done, and to do whatever policy mechanisms can be breakthroughs immediately without waiting. Issues on national standards and norms for the green transport sector have also been compiled and submitted to the Government to perfect the institution.

"The roadmap to green transformation of the entire transport system of the capital by 2050 is very feasible," Mr. Dao Viet Long believes.

Master of Urban Management Tran Tuan Anh commented: Never before have we felt such a great and urgent wave of green transformation in the transport industry. Ministries, branches, and localities have all rolled up their sleeves, aiming at the goal set by the Government to convert green energy for the transport industry by 2050. I am confident that if we can maintain this momentum, we will complete the greening goal on all "fronts" of the transport industry, creating a great driving force for a green, sustainable economy.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nganh-giao-thong-van-tai-tien-phong-chuyen-doi-nang-luong-xanh-d787452.html