On August 26, 2025, the Faculty of Environment, Climate Change and Urban Studies, College of Economics and Public Management, National Economics University (NEU), and the United Kingdom’s Climate Compatible Growth research program co-organized the 2025 Annual Seminar of the Vietnam Climate Compatible Growth Network.

Overview of the workshop

External participants attending the seminar included Anna Gibson, Climate Counselor at the British Embassy in Hanoi; Dr. Kirsty Mackinlay, Country Partnerships Team Lead for Zambia, Laos, and Vietnam, University of Cambridge; Dr. Phouvong Phimmakong, Head of the Department of International Cooperation, EU and ASEAN Affairs, National University of Laos (NUOL); Dr. Sounthisack Phommachanh and Dr. Orlavanh Sonesouphap, Country Coordinators of the Laos CCG Network, National University of Laos; Prof. Simone Abram, Executive Director of the Durham Energy Institute, Durham University; Dr. Sam Stephenson and Prof. Jonathan Cullen, Head of the Resource Efficiency Research Group, University of Cambridge; Prof. Maryna Henrysson, Dr. Francesco Gardumi, and Dr. Shravan Kumar, Department of Energy Systems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; Nguyen Thi Phuong Hien, Deputy Director of the Academy of Strategy and Training for Construction Officials, Ministry of Construction; Dr. Truong Thi Thu Trang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tung, Deputy TOD Team Lead, Vietnam Green Cities and Infrastructure Program (GCIP Vietnam); Dr. Le Minh Thanh, Country Director of GCIP Vietnam, British Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City; Dr. Nguyen Tu Anh, Chief Economist at the Center for Smart Green Transformation, VinUniversity; Dr. Nguyen Hung, Senior Program Manager, College of Business, RMIT Vietnam; Tran Thi Hong Gam, Senior Program Manager, British Council; Dr. Le Thi Ly, Head of the Institutions, Infrastructure, Economics and Business Team, Mekong Development Research Institute (MDRI); Nguyen Thi Nhu Van, NDC3.0-IPPU Team Lead, Electric Power University; Dr. Bui Duong, National Center for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NAWAPI); and more than 100 delegates from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Construction, and Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), representatives of numerous businesses, universities, and research institutes, and domestic and international experts and scientists.

Representing NEU were 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 departments, faculties, schools, institutes, centers, and sociopolitical organizations across the University.

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

On behalf of the University’s leadership, 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.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu commended the results achieved in recent years by the Vietnam CCG Network, the global CCG Country Partnerships Team, and the University Partners Consortium, led by Loughborough University and including the University of London, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, the Open University, and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. These results include a total of 10 approved project proposals from Vietnam, with research activities now underway, and numerous series of workshops, seminars, and in-person and online consultation meetings held to provide input and connect domestic and international experts.

Looking ahead, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, expressed his hope that the Vietnam CCG Network would continue to build on its role and in-depth 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 that provide evidence and support policymaking to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, particularly in priority areas such as the energy transition, the green transition in transportation and construction, the circular economy, carbon market development, and green finance in Vietnam.

At the seminar, 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 advancing 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.

Anna Gibson, Climate Counselor at the British Embassy, delivers welcoming remarks

Also at the seminar, Anna Gibson, Climate Counselor at the British Embassy in Vietnam, expressed her thanks and shared her positive impressions of visiting NEU. She also offered her heartfelt congratulations to CCG network members on their progress and achievements in recent years.

Anna Gibson emphasized that Vietnam’s journey toward net zero by 2050 would be complex and challenging, requiring long-term planning and investment. The Climate Counselor at the British Embassy in Vietnam was therefore pleased to see the efforts of the UK Government’s CCG program and its partner, the CCG Network in Vietnam, to achieve important green transition goals. She looked forward to seeing the results and positive impacts of this research in the coming period.

During the seminar’s morning session, Anna Gibson, Climate Counselor at the British Embassy in Vietnam, presented an overview of the United Kingdom’s programs and projects supporting the green transition in Vietnam, their priority areas, coordination mechanisms, and results achieved. She also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and the CCG network in supporting Vietnam’s green growth goals.

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

Following this, Dr. Kirsty Mackinlay, Country Partnerships Team Lead for Zambia, Laos, and Vietnam, provided updates on the global CCG network’s operational structure, research funding, and academic and capacity-building programs. The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will fund research activities in the next phase through 2030.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Nam, Country Coordinator of the Vietnam CCG Network, provides updates on results achieved to date and the activity plan for 2025

In his presentation at the seminar, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Nam, Country Coordinator of the Vietnam CCG Network, shared information on the network’s completed activities, ongoing projects, specific objectives and plans for 2025, and the objectives of this year’s annual seminar.

The Vietnam CCG Network will continue to conduct and support research with strong practical relevance in Vietnam based on the priorities of CCG’s Country Strategy; organize seminars and collaborate 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 products to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders in Vietnam; provide information and support research teams in submitting proposals for CCG funds and funding packages; and connect with CCG networks in other countries.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tung delivers an online presentation on “Transforming Vietnam’s cities: Transit-Oriented Development – TOD as a driver of Vietnam’s climate ambitions”

Also during the morning session, seminar participants heard a presentation by Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tung, Deputy TOD Team Lead, Vietnam Green Cities and Infrastructure Program (GCIP Vietnam), on “Transforming Vietnam’s cities: Transit-Oriented Development – TOD as a driver of Vietnam’s climate ambitions.”

Discussion session on the green transition in transportation and construction

Another key focus was the discussion session on the green transition in transportation and construction, moderated by Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc Truong. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Construction, the GCIP Vietnam Program, the Smart Green Transformation Center at VinUni University, the National University of Laos, and the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment, as well as the Director of the CCG Cooling Project at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. The discussion clarified the opportunities and challenges in adopting green solutions, as well as the policies needed to promote the transition in these two key sectors.

Dr. Francesco Gardumi presents “The CLEW model and its applications in CCG partner countries”

Dr. Sounthisack Phommachanh presents “Introducing the Research Center of Excellence model in Laos”

During the afternoon session, seminar participants heard online presentations on the CLEW model and its applications in CCG partner countries by Dr. Francesco Gardumi and colleagues (KTH, Sweden), followed by an introduction to the Research Center of Excellence model in Laos by Dr. Sounthisack Phommachanh. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Nam then introduced the new bachelor’s program in Environmental Technology and Sustainable Development at National Economics University (NEU), demonstrating a long-term commitment to integrating sustainability into university education.

Discussion session on higher education and capacity building for the green transition

The afternoon program centered on a discussion session on higher education and capacity building for the green transition, chaired by Dr. Le Huy Huan, National Coordinator of the CCG Vietnam Network. The session featured representatives from the British Council, the National University of Laos, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, RMIT Vietnam, Electric Power University, and NEU.

Participants held in-depth discussions on the role of higher education institutions in preparing the workforce for the green transition. They also shared international models and experiences and proposed directions for multilateral cooperation in the coming period.

Prof. Jonathan Cullen and Dr. Sam Stephenson share “The ASEAN report and research on the potential for a circular economy in Vietnam – SPF”

Dr. Le Thi Ly presents preliminary findings from the SPF project on acacia cultivation—a feasible, sustainable, and inclusive solution for coal industry workers in Vietnam

Dr. Bui Duong provides an update on preliminary findings from the water resources management project

Following the break, the seminar moved into a thematic reporting session featuring key presentations. Prof. Jonathan Cullen and Dr. Sam Stephenson (University of Cambridge) presented research on the potential for a circular economy in Vietnam under the SPF project; Dr. Le Thi Ly (MDRI) provided an update on research into acacia cultivation as a sustainable alternative for coal industry workers; and Dr. Bui Duong (NAWAPI) reported on the water resources management project.

The program concluded with a plenary question-and-answer session and wrap-up, chaired by Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc Truong. Participants’ contributions and recommendations helped shape priorities for future cooperation within the CCG Vietnam Network, with a particular focus on key areas such as transportation, energy, education, and resource management.

Participants engage in discussions at the seminar

Seminar participants pose for a commemorative group photo

Also as part of the seminar, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, and representatives of the leadership of University units warmly welcomed and held discussions with Anna Gibson, Climate Counselor at the British Embassy in Vietnam, along with participants and guest speakers. The meeting focused on opportunities for research cooperation and the provision of scientific evidence to support sustainable development policymaking in the coming period.

At the meeting, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu thanked the participants and speakers for their support of the University and expressed his wishes for a successful seminar and many meaningful experiences at NEU.

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

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

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.