Vietnam, RoK step up cooperation in climate change response
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh and Deputy Minister of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Environment Hyoeun Jenny Kim co-chaired the first meeting of the Vietnam-RoK Joint Working Group on Climate Change Cooperation on June 20.
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh and Deputy Minister of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Environment Hyoeun Jenny Kim co-chair✤ed the first meeting of the Vietnam-RoK Joint Working Group on Climate Change Cooperation on June 20.
The virtual meeting came after both countries pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in 2021.
Thanh highlighted Vietnam’s National Climate Change Strategy (2021-2030) with a vision to 2050, which outlines measures for adaptation and mitigation. He pointed to numerous international agreements, including the 2021 Framework Agreement with the RoK as crucial steps in tackling climate change.
Vietnam’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2022 commits to a 15.8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, he said, adding that the country is planning a pilot domestic carbon market in 2025, with full operation targeted for 2028.
Looking ahead to COP29, Vietnam hopes for clearer guidelines on climate finance goals and the establishment of rules for bilateral cooperation on carbon credit exchanges under the Paris Agreement’s Article 6, he said.
He expressed Vietnam’s desire to learn from the RoK's experience in developing its domestic carbon market and facilitating international carbon credit exchange, particularly for bilateral agreements.
Kim, for her part, highlighted the active participation of both sides in implementing the Framework Agreement, with the potential for further collaboration, especially on carbon markets.
Representatives from Vietnamese ministries presented proposals to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field.
The Korean side also proposed projects on greenhouse gas reduction, including initiatives in non-fired brick production, rooftop solar power, biomass fuel use in industrial boilers, among others./.
Vietnam, on behalf of the Core Group which also includes Bangladesh and the Philippines, will table the 2024 Resolution on Climate Change and Human Rights with the theme of ensuring human rights in the energy transition process at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s 56th session that opened in Geneva on June 18.
The United States Mission to Vietnam, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the UN Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam, on June 7 launched an initiative in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho to build up local capacities to detect, prevent, and respond to climate change-related emerging infectious diseases.
Cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and Blockchain are reshaping the fight against climate change, offering a pathway toward early climate analysis, enhanced carbon transparency, and mitigation of negative impacts, said experts.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
