Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, towards green growth

In the context of increasingly severe climate change (CC) and the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) becoming a global trend, Tay Ninh province is gradually realizing its green growth strategy through developing carbon markets and implementing effective GHG reduction solutions (GPT). With efforts from policy to practice, the locality not only demonstrates a proactive role in adapting to climate change but also opens up new opportunities for low-emission agriculture, especially in the fields of rice cultivation and forest protection.

Concentrated solar power projects contribute to green energy transition and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Proactive towards emission reduction

Developing a carbon market is considered one of the strategic solutions to help Vietnam fulfill its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In the province, the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DARD) is gradually implementing specific steps to create a foundation for carbon credit trading, especially in the fields of rice cultivation and forest protection; implementing climate change adaptation and sustainable development goals.

Notably, the province has implemented the Project on Sustainable Development of 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030. The goal is to build a high-quality rice cultivation area, apply sustainable farming processes, use certified rice varieties, water-saving farming techniques, fertilizers and pesticides, thereby both increasing income for rice growers and contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the plan, the province will form about 125,000 hectares of high-quality rice areas, including consolidating the area of 60,000 hectares supported by the Vietnam Sustainable Agricultural Transformation Project (VnSAT).

To realize the GPT target, the relevant departments have coordinated with relevant units to train, build a Measurement - Reporting - Verification (MRV) system, inventory and prepare to issue carbon credits to eligible areas. Many agricultural cooperatives have been strengthened and improved internal irrigation works to serve low-emission production.

However, in reality, there are still many obstacles, especially the fact that Vietnam has not yet established an official domestic carbon credit trading market, especially in the field of agricultural production such as rice. In that context, localities still proactively coordinate with international organizations and businesses to implement small-scale carbon credit exchange models as an important stepping stone for future development.

Along with the development of the carbon market, the implementation of international commitments on greenhouse gas mitigation has been systematically implemented. The Provincial People's Committee has issued a series of important directives, requiring relevant agencies to organize greenhouse gas inventories, develop a GPT roadmap and promote green growth.

Deploying a row seeding model combined with border effects to reduce seeds, early-season fertilizers and emissions

Specifically, the old Long An province has implemented the Action Plan to Respond to Climate Change for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, focusing on emission reduction in the agriculture, industry and energy sectors. In particular, Outspan Coffee Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Binh Duc commune) has successfully implemented a project under the internationally recognized Clean Development Mechanism (MRV), with a total GPT potential of up to more than 332,780 tons of CO₂, equivalent to 10 years.

The former Tay Ninh province has also carried out similar tasks, notably investigating, inventorying, and updating the list of large emission facilities according to Government regulations, as a basis for inventorying and controlling emissions. Specialized agencies have been coordinating with localities to review emission sources; assess GPT potential in the fields of cultivation, livestock, industrial production, transportation and energy.

One of the notable achievements is the development of renewable energy. As of October 2024, solar power output in the old Long An province reached nearly 949 million kWh, accounting for about 14.5% of total electricity output, showing the great potential of the locality in the transition to green energy, contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Towards carbon markets and green growth

Farmers harvest rice under the Project on Sustainable Development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta by 2030

In the coming time, the province determines that developing a carbon market is not only an essential requirement to fulfill international commitments but also an opportunity to open up new directions for agricultural production, especially rice production and forest protection.

According to the general direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, by 2028, Vietnam will establish and officially operate a domestic carbon credit trading platform. Anticipating this trend, the province is promoting the construction of rice production models that meet low emission standards, capable of participating in the international carbon credit market right now.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continues to coordinate with domestic and foreign organizations to complete the MRV system for high-quality rice growing areas. Cooperatives will be supported to improve their management capacity, link consumption and access the carbon credit market. A number of models will be piloted to issue carbon credits from rice cultivation and forest protection activities, opening up the possibility of trading with domestic and foreign enterprises that need to offset emissions.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Minh Lam said that in addition to focusing on GPT in the agricultural sector, the Provincial People's Committee assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to deploy GPT solutions in the field of energy production and consumption. Accordingly, it will continue to promote investment in rooftop solar power, biomass energy from agricultural by-products and wind energy to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the total energy supply.

At the same time, relevant agencies continue to update and implement action plans to respond to climate change and green growth in line with national orientations, including the gradual elimination of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases controlled under Decision No. 496/QD-TTg, dated June 11, 2024 of the Prime Minister.

In addition, the province aims to integrate GPT goals into socio-economic development planning, land use planning, new rural construction planning and urbanization, thereby both improving the resilience of the community to the impacts of climate change and expanding opportunities to access international green finance sources.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment is completing a dossier to propose low-emission rice production models to participate in the international voluntary carbon market. This is a promising direction, helping farmers increase their income and contributing to the country's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions./.

Thanh Tung

Source: https://baolongan.vn/no-luc-giam-phat-thai-khi-nha-kinh-huong-den-tang-truong-xanh-a200612.html