Vietnam to Make Strong Commitments at COP26: Top Legislators

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (Right) and COP26 President Alok Kumar Sharma (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has welcomed COP26 President Alok Kumar Sharma, who is also the British Minister for the Cabinet Office, for visiting again to discuss cooperation in climate change responses and pushing for the establishment of a Just Energy Transition Partnership between Vietnam and its development partners.

Thanking Hue for his reception in Hanoi on August 29, Sharma said this is his third visit to Vietnam in 18 months and that he talked with Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Tran Hong Ha about various topics, particularly a national strategy against climate change, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, Vietnam’s Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII), and the country’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Hue said Vietnam is among the leading countries in realizing the UN Millennium Development Goals and is also one of the most vulnerable to climate change.

Even though Vietnam is confronting various challenges in terms of finance, technology, and capacity like many other developing countries, it is determined to fulfill its commitments made at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the UK last year, he said, particularly referring to the “2050 net-zero emissions goal".

As it is a political commitment, he emphasized, it not only reflects Vietnam’s policy towards energy transition, green growth, and climate change adaptation but also demonstrates its responsibility in joint global initiatives.

Hue also stressed that the country has released a set of tasks and solutions for fulfilling the COP26 commitments, the national strategy against climate change by 2050, an action plan on cutting methane emissions by 2030, and an action program on green energy transition and reduction of carbon and methane emissions in the transport industry.

Vietnam is finalizing the PDP VIII, aiming to make the most of natural gas and renewables for electricity production and minimize the number of coal-fired thermal power plants, he added.

Agreeing with Hue's view, Sharma highly valued Vietnam for its strong commitments at COP26, saying energy security is a shared concern among many countries, including those from Europe, as these nations are accelerating use of renewables to satisfy rising demand and ensure energy security.

He urged Vietnam to revise its legal framework to facilitate the participation of private investors in the energy transition. He also hoped that the establishment of a Just Energy Transition Partnership will play a crucial role in Vietnam’s realization of its COP26 commitments.

Vietnam's implementation of the COP26 commitments

By 2030, renewable energy, including hydroelectricity, and wind, solar and biomass power, will account for at least 33% of the total electricity output, according to the project (Photo: Vietnam's Economic News).

At a meeting on August 25 with Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, UN Special Adviser to the Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General of the Climate Action Team Selwin Hart highly appreciated the results of his visit to Hanoi in early August, having witnessed with his own eyes the efforts of Vietnam in implementing the commitments made at the COP26 as well as challenges facing Vietnam.

He noted his hope that Vietnam will reap positive results in the negotiations for the establishment of a partnership in energy transition, and that the Southeast Asian nation will continue to make strong commitments at COP27 slated for November, reported from VNA.

The UN will further support Vietnam in energy transition, resource mobilization, and technology transfer to achieve the commitments, he pledged.

According to the nation’s update on the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), Vietnam commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 9% by 2030, and this can be further brought to 27% with international support through cooperation and mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.

As part of the efforts to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, the country issued a wide range of policies and programs such as the Politburo’s Decision No.55-NQ/TW on the orientation of a national energy development strategy by 2030 with a vision until 2045, a national program on effective use of energy during 2019-2030, and a strategy on building material development during 2021-2020 with a vision until 2050.

COP26 was held in Glasgow, Scotland (the UK), last November, during which Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam will capitalize on its advantages in renewable energy and take stronger measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh on July 25 signed a decision approving the project on tasks and solutions to implement outcomes of the COP26.

The project targets activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in such spheres as energy, transportation, construction material production and agriculture while stepping up waste treatment.

Commuters are encouraged to use electricity and green energy, and all of them should use biofuel E5 RON 92 by 2030. Meanwhile, greenhouse gas emissions in the energy industry will be cut by 32.6%; agriculture, 43%; and forestry and land use, 70%.

By 2030, renewable energy, including hydroelectricity, and wind, solar and biomass power, will account for at least 33% of the total electricity output, according to the project.

To that end, the project puts forth major tasks and solutions, including the consolidation of mechanisms, policies and laws, and administrative reform; renewable energy development; energy storage technologies; the reduction of gas emissions in transport and construction material production; green urban development; circular, low-carbon agriculture; the protection, preservation and sustainable use and development of forests; climate change response; and scientific research and innovation.

The project also mentions the establishment of a national renewable energy centre, and the possibility for Vietnam to join the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to accelerate energy transition and mobilise funding for climate change response and energy transition activities.

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