On July 9-10, 2024, the Faculty of Environment, Climate Change and Urban Studies at National Economics University (NEU), together with the United Kingdom’s Climate Compatible Growth research program, co-organized the 2024 Annual Seminar of the Vietnam Climate Compatible Growth Network.

An overview of the conference

External attendees at the seminar included Sara Hamid, Chief Energy Adviser for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in Vietnam; Phan Thi Lien Huong, Research and Innovation Program Manager; Le Thi Bich Ngoc, Energy Attache at the British Embassy in Hanoi; Prof. Yacob Mulugetta, Director of Partnerships and Head of International Cooperation at CCG, University of London; Dr. Kirsty Mackinlay, Country Partnerships Lead for Zambia, Laos and Vietnam, University of Cambridge; Dr. Naomi Tan, CCG expert, Loughborough University; Dr. Pu Yang, CCG expert, University of Oxford; Prof. Khamphone Nanthavong and Dr. Sounthisack Phommachanh, National Coordinators of the Laos CCG Network, National University of Laos; Juhi Saini, Deputy Director, and Anoop Zachariah, Head of Decarbonization Solutions Consulting, ReNew Group, India; along with more than 120 delegates from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), representatives of numerous businesses, universities and research institutes from northern to southern Vietnam, and domestic and international experts and scientists.

Representing NEU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President; Prof. Dr. Do Thi Hai Ha, Rector of the College of Economics and Public Management; Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc Truong, Dean of the Faculty of Environment, Climate Change and Urban Studies; and representatives of the leadership of member colleges, departments, faculties, institutes, centers and socio-political organizations across the University.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, delivers the opening remarks at the seminar.

On behalf of the University leadership, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu welcomed domestic and international delegates, experts and scientists to the Annual Seminar of the Vietnam Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) Network. He commended the results achieved over the past year by the Vietnam CCG Network, the global CCG Country Partnerships Team and the University Partner Consortium, led by Loughborough University and including the universities of London, Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial, the Open University, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. These results included a total of five approved project proposals from Vietnam, with research activities underway, and numerous series of workshops, seminars and in-person and online consultation meetings to provide input and connect domestic experts with international counterparts.

Looking ahead, Vice President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu expressed his hope that the Vietnam CCG Network would continue to build on its role and deep understanding of Vietnam’s context to serve as an effective link between domestic partner groups and international partners. Through this role, the network could propose and implement more research projects to provide evidence and support policymaking to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, particularly in key areas such as energy, transport, industrial processes, the circular economy and carbon market development in Vietnam.

At the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu also expressed his appreciation for the efforts and important contributions of the Faculty of Environment, Climate Change and Urban Studies and the Vietnam CCG Coordination Board in promoting cooperation between partner universities in the United Kingdom and NEU. He expressed his hope that this cooperation would expand and contribute to the shared development of all parties.

Sara Hamid, Chief JETP Energy Adviser at the British Embassy, delivers welcoming remarks.

In her remarks, Sara Hamid, Chief JETP Energy Adviser at the British Embassy in Vietnam, expressed her thanks and shared her positive impressions of her first visit to NEU. She also warmly congratulated CCG network members on their progress and achievements during the first year of cooperation. Sara Hamid emphasized that Vietnam’s journey toward net zero by 2050 would be complex and challenging, requiring long-term planning and investment. She was therefore pleased to see the efforts of the British Government’s CCG program and its partner, the CCG Network in Vietnam, to achieve important green transition goals, and looked forward to seeing the results and positive impacts of this research in the coming period.

Dr. Kirsty Mackinlay, Country Partnerships Team Lead for Zambia, Laos, and Vietnam, CCG and CGE programs, provides updates on the global CCG network

At the first plenary session, Prof. Yacob Mulugetta, CCG Director of Partnerships and Head of International Cooperation, and Dr. Kirsty Mackinlay, Country Partnerships Lead for Zambia, Laos and Vietnam, provided updates on the global CCG network’s organizational arrangements, activities and research funding. The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will provide GBP 95 million for research activities in the next phase through 2030. In Vietnam, the priority areas in which CCG encourages organizations and individuals to propose research toward Net zero include the energy transition, green transport and the circular economy, with carbon markets to be included in the coming period.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Nam, National Coordinator of the Vietnam CCG Network, provides an update on results achieved to date and the activity plan for 2024.

In his presentation at the seminar, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Nam, National Coordinator of the Vietnam CCG Network, shared information about the network’s activities to date, ongoing projects, specific objectives and plans for 2024, and the objectives of this year’s annual seminar. Accordingly, the Vietnam CCG Network will continue to conduct and support research with strong practical relevance in Vietnam based on the priorities of the CCG Country Strategy; organize seminars and cooperate with universities and experts in the global CCG network to develop academic programs and training at NEU and other educational institutions; share CCG tools, models and outputs to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders in Vietnam; provide information and support research teams in submitting proposals to CCG funds and funding packages; and connect with CCG networks in other countries.

Also during the first day’s plenary session, seminar participants heard policy updates on priority areas in Vietnam and information on priority topics and proposal submission timelines for research to be funded by global CCG in 2024. Specifically, (1) Dr. Sounthisack Phommachanh, CCG Laos, presented “Opportunities and Barriers to Laos’s Green Growth Ambitions”; (2) Pham Nam Hung, Department of Climate Change, presented “Current Regulations on Greenhouse Gas Inventories, MRV and the Roadmap for Carbon Market Development in Vietnam”; (3) Dr. Nguyen Linh Dan, University of Science and Technology, presented “Energy Policy Updates in Vietnam and Challenges”; (4) Dr. Tran Dai Nghia, Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development, MARD, presented “Challenges in the Transition to Low-Emission Agriculture”; (5) Dr. Lai Van Manh, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, MONRE, presented “Green Financial Markets Toward the Net-Zero Goal in Vietnam”; and (6) Dr. Kirsty Mackinlay, CCG Country Partnerships Lead, provided updates on the priority topics of the Flexible Research Fund (FRF) and its call for proposals in 2024.

Dr. Sounthisack Phommachanh presents “Opportunities and Barriers to Laos’s Green Growth Ambitions.”

Mr. Pham Nam Hung presents “Current Regulations on Greenhouse Gas Inventories, MRV and the Roadmap for Carbon Market Development in Vietnam.”

Dr. Nguyen Linh Dan presents “Energy Policy Updates in Vietnam and Challenges.”

Dr. Tran Dai Nghia presents “Challenges in the Transition to Low-Emission Agriculture.”

Dr. Lai Van presents “Green Financial Markets Toward the Net-Zero Goal in Vietnam.”

That afternoon, four parallel discussion sessions on four topics—energy transition, sustainable transport, the circular economy and carbon markets—were held to discuss the opportunities and challenges these areas present for Vietnam’s net zero ambitions.

Delegates discuss key topics for the green transition in Vietnam.

During the plenary sessions on the second day of discussions, seminar participants heard presentations and updates on four projects completed or underway in Vietnam: (1) “Low-Carbon Economic Transition in Vietnam: Macroeconomic Impacts”; (2) “Financing Models for Urban Electric Buses in Vietnam”; (3) “Sustainable Cooling in Net-Zero Emissions Buildings in Vietnam”; and (4) “Material Flow Analysis in Vietnam’s Packaging Industry.” CCG experts also shared relevant research findings in Vietnam, including (1) research by Dr. Naomi of Loughborough University (UK) on “Modeling Tools and Pathways to Facilitate Decarbonization of Vietnam’s Transport Sector”; and (2) research by Dr. Pu Yang of the University of Oxford (UK) on “Unlocking Value Beyond Profit: Social Return on Investment in Vietnam’s Energy Transition.” Representing the Vietnam CCG Network, Prof. Dinh Duc Truong presented “Theory of Change and Approaches to Project Impact Assessment.”

Dr. Ha Kieu Oanh presents preliminary findings from the project “Low-Carbon Economic Transition in Vietnam: Macroeconomic Impacts.”

Ms. La Tra Linh presents preliminary findings from the project “Financing Models for Urban Electric Buses in Vietnam.”

Dr. Trinh Quoc Dung presents preliminary findings from the project “Sustainable Cooling in Net-Zero Emissions Buildings in Vietnam.”

MSc. Nguyen The Thong presents preliminary findings from the project “Material Flow Analysis in Vietnam’s Packaging Industry.”

Dr. Pu Yang of the University of Oxford presents findings from the study “Unlocking Value Beyond Profit: Social Return on Investment in Vietnam’s Energy Transition.”

Dr. Naomi of Loughborough University on “Modeling Tools and Pathways to Facilitate Decarbonization of Vietnam’s Transport Sector.”

Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc Truong presents “Theory of Change and Approaches to Project Impact Assessment.”

Drawing on the initial findings and experience of earlier projects, the experience of international experts, and guidance from the Vietnam CCG Network, four parallel discussion sessions were held on the second day for the following groups: (1) regulatory agencies; (2) businesses; (3) universities and research institutes; and (4) nongovernmental organizations and the public. In these sessions, delegates discussed and proposed potential projects aligned with the priority themes of the Flexible Research Fund (FRF) 2024 from their respective perspectives.

Delegates hold discussions during a parallel session.

Seminar participants pose for a group photo.

Earlier, as part of the seminar program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, and representatives of the University’s unit leaders welcomed Prof. Yacob Mulugetta, CCG Director of Partnerships and Head of International Cooperation, along with delegates and guest speakers, for an informal discussion on research cooperation and providing evidence to inform sustainable development policymaking in the coming period. Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, thanked the delegates and speakers and expressed his hope that the guests would have a successful and engaging seminar at National Economics University (NEU).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, welcomes and meets with delegates and guest speakers.

Article and photos: Faculty of Environment, Climate Change and Urban Studies and Department of Communications

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