Ambitious objective: Customers at a cafe along the Saigon River Ho Chi Minh City. The city of 11 million is looking to fast-track its green transition. — Bloomberg
HO CHI MINH CITY: Ho Chi Minh City is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 by adopting policies and mechanisms to transition into a green and sustainable economy.
Speaking at the “Green Economy Forum 2023: Net Zero Path to Sustainable Development” last Friday, Phan Van Mai, chairman of the city People’s Committee, said resources have been allocated to facilitate this green transition and to meet the nation’s goal of zero emissions by 2050.
The city has strategies in place for achieving green economic development, circular economy, energy transition, and sustainable urban development, according to Phan.
It also plans to enhance its energy, urban and social infrastructure to achieve green growth.
The city has identified Can Gio District as a pilot site for achieving carbon neutrality, and will develop a comprehensive plan to achieve zero emissions there by 2030, with a focus on transitioning vehicles to renewable energy sources, adopting advanced waste and rubbish treatment technologies, and utilising carbon credits, he revealed.
Mai also called on businesses to fulfil their commitments and obtain certification that demonstrates their progress towards net zero.
Many domestic businesses had in fact already begun transforming their operations to align with sustainable development and environmental friendliness, he added.
Jonathan Pincus, senior international economist at the United Nations Development Programme, said the transformation required the adoption of technological solutions, efficient use of energy-saving materials, and the development of renewable energy.
“To support these efforts, both domestic and international policy coordination is needed,” he said.
Ha Dang Son, deputy director of the Vietnam Low Emission Energy Programme II, said many banks and other organisations, both Vietnamese and foreign, had made commitments to financially support the country’s green transition.
Vietnam must effectively utilise these funds.
Tan Boon Thor, director of commercial real estate and design management at Frasers Property Vietnam, said businesses need to take concrete action to achieve their net zero goals.
He suggested implementing emissions-reduction schemes, adopting energy-saving technologies and raising awareness of net zero throughout management, suppliers, and workers.
Lam To Trinh, deputy general director of innovation and business development at steel company NS BlueScope Vietnam, said businesses that want to enter the global market must develop specific carbon emission reduction plans.
The government should establish legal frameworks and policy systems to encourage the participation of all parties in the green economy and create guidelines to attract all kinds of stakeholders in production, business and finance, he said.
The forum was organised by Saigon Economic Times to discuss Vietnam’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 as committed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2021. — Viet Nam News/ANN
