Vietnam - Canada exchange experiences in reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Attending the workshop were Ms. Mary Ng - Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada; Mr. Le Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment ; representatives of leaders of ministries, departments and central agencies; local authorities, research organizations and trade organizations from Canada and Vietnam...

Việt Nam - Canada trao đổi kinh nghiệm trong giảm phát thải khí nhà kính

Overview of the conference (Photo: Nguyen Thanh)

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh said: Green development, energy transition, and emission reduction have become inevitable and irreversible trends globally. The Vietnamese Government is making great efforts to both develop the economy and ensure the implementation of commitments and responsible contributions to climate change with the international community. Vietnam's national strategy on climate change until 2050 identifies strong measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with specific goals and roadmaps to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Vietnam also updated its 2022 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with an unconditional emission reduction target of up to 15.8% by 2030 and a conditional target of up to 43.5% compared to the business-as-usual scenario. These are both very ambitious but challenging targets, requiring huge financial and technological resources.

" To realize these goals, Vietnam has taken urgent action across the political , economic and social systems. Accordingly, Vietnam has adjusted and issued the National Power Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, which sets the goal of successfully implementing a fair energy transition associated with production modernization, building a smart grid, and advanced power system management, in line with the world's green transition, emission reduction, and science and technology development trends. By 2050, the proportion of renewable energy will reach 67.5-71.5% of electricity production. " - Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh said.

The workshop aims to share experiences in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 (Photo: Nguyen Thanh)

At the same time, Vietnam has strongly promoted the application of solutions on management, technology, equipment, and techniques for economical and efficient use of energy to save input energy costs, reduce production costs, increase business efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions...

Along with that, ministries, branches and localities in Vietnam have been researching, developing, exploiting and using new energy sources, renewable energy, clean energy such as solar energy, wind energy, hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, biomass, green hydrogen,...

In addition, all economic sectors have begun to comprehensively apply solutions to manage, exploit, and use resources and input materials economically and efficiently in production activities, minimize waste to the environment, and maximize opportunities to apply circular economic models and sharing economies... Fifth, Vietnam announced the "Political Declaration on Establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership" (JETP) by the end of 2022 with the Group of International Partners...

The leader of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also said that the foundation of the green transition process including energy conversion, eliminating the use of coal, fossil fuels and developing renewable energy in Vietnam cannot become a reality without widespread cooperation between partners, countries in the region and globally.

Therefore, Vietnam wishes to continue to cooperate more deeply with Canada in efforts to transition to energy, eliminate fossil fuels, raise renewable energy targets and enhance the adaptability and resilience of the entire society and economy; ensuring an effective green transition that is most beneficial for the people and all organizations, partners and participating countries.

“ Green transformation must lead to breakthrough changes. And more than ever, now is the time for countries around the world to strengthen cooperation, overcome barriers and difficulties in the spirit of "harmonized benefits, shared risks", so that none of us miss any breakthrough opportunities " - Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh emphasized.

Ms. Mary Ng - Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada speaking at the workshop (Photo: Nguyen Thanh)

At the workshop, Ms. Mary Ng - Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada emphasized: The Government of Canada highly appreciates Vietnam's efforts in the journey towards net zero emissions. As a comprehensive partner, Canada is committed to accompanying and supporting Vietnam in the transition to a circular economy, as well as being ready to share knowledge and experience on climate change, energy, renewables and carbon management, thereby further deepening bilateral relations.

In the coming time, both countries aim to promote connectivity between relevant agencies and enterprises, enhance common interests in greenhouse gas emissions management, carbon markets and technological innovations such as carbon capture and utilization, signaling a promising direction for bilateral cooperation.

At the workshop, delegates listened to and discussed many important contents such as: climate change policy and Vietnam's commitment to net zero emissions; overview of Canada's ecosystems, plans and actions towards net zero emissions; Carbon management regulations in some localities of Canada; Canada's Net Zero Emissions Responsibility Act and monitoring progress in emission reduction, the role of specialized organizations in climate governance.

At the same time, delegates attending the Workshop also attended the Seminar on “Clean Energy Transition: Strategy and Policy on Emission Reduction” and “Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Agricultural Sector”; and a roundtable discussion: “Opportunities for Vietnam – Canada Cooperation”.

It is known that the results of this workshop “Towards Net Zero: Sharing Vietnam – Canada Experiences” will promote dialogues and knowledge exchanges between Vietnam and Canada on topics related to commitments, plans and targets on climate change in areas of mutual interest, including: carbon management, carbon markets, carbon use and storage; decommissioning, reusing coal-fired plants and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture.

In addition, the workshop provided a real opportunity to share perspectives, promote networking, identify ways to apply Canadian expertise to support Vietnam’s net zero emissions commitments, as well as identify opportunities for cooperation between Canada and Vietnam, from both development cooperation and trade perspectives.

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