Hanoi (VNA)💧 – With the determination of the Government and the consensus of society, green transition will not only be a trend but also a driving force for growth, helping Vietnam achieve the economic growth target of over 8% in 2025, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh.

Speaking at the launch of Green Transformation Day 2025 on March 28, Thanh emphasised that green transformation is no longer a choice, but has become a requirement in the context that Vietnam is facing a series of challenges from climate change, extreme natural disasters, environmental pollution, and natural resource depletion. He said that many enterprises consider green business practices as a competitive strategy, especially large corporations and foreign-invested enterprises that are actively transitioning to a low-carbon economic model. However, most of small- and medium-sized enterprises do not fully understand the nature and role of green transition, according to Thanh. Cited the 13th National Party Congress’s viewpoint, Thanh stated that green transition and digital transformation are identified as foundational elements for Vietnam to become a developed, strong, and prosperous nation by 2045. The government has been promoting actions through the National Strategy for Green Growth for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision towards 2050, along with specific action plans. The Prime Minister issued Directive 44/CT-TTg on December 9, 2024, which calls for the acceleration of green growth solutions. In this context, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment plays a key role in environmental protection, nature conservation, mechanism perfection for carbon credits and environmental criteria, and circular economy promotion. Another important milestone is Decision 232/QD-TTg signed by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on January 24, 2025, approving the project for establishing and developing a carbon market in Vietnam. The country aims to promote greenhouse gas emission reductions at optimal costs while creating new financial sources for green development activities, striving for net-zero emissions by 2050. Relevant ministries and sectors are urgently completing the legal framework to pilot a carbon trading platform by June, while enhancing state management capabilities and the capacity of businesses and communities to participate in the market, Thanh said. However, Vietnam’s green criteria system still show shortcomings. Many green project categories have not provided specific criteria for classifying projects or meeting international standards. Banks also face difficulties in financing environmentally friendly projects due to the absence of clear criteria. Recognising the shortcomings, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has presented a draft decision to the Prime Minister to issue environmental criteria for investment projects eligible for green credit and green bond issuance.

Actions for Vietnam’s sustainable development

♌Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, said Hanoi has a strong commitment to being a pioneer towards a sustainable development future and achieving net-zero emissions.

To achieve this goal, there is an urgent need to shift the mindset in environmental protection from "exploitation" to "conservation", Hoa said, adding that every individual should start with specific, practical actions such as planting trees, maintaining environmental hygiene, and sorting and recycling waste at the source. He said that the capital city has been implementing many action programmes to realise the Net Zero goal, notably its green transportation system, including electric buses, urban railways, bike lanes, and environmentally friendly pedestrian areas. These solutions not only contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution but also help restructure the transportation system in a smarter, more convenient, and sustainable way for residents, Hoa said. He also highlighted the establishment of low-emission zones. Initially, Hanoi will pilot this model in Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts – areas with high traffic density and significant environmental pressure. After the trial phase, this model will be rolled out in other districts. At the event, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Nguyen Xuan Hung, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh, and representatives of the Ministry of Construction, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hanoi, agencies, organisations, and enterprises joined the “Green Pledge” button-pressing ceremony. Apart from the launch ceremony, from March to May 2025, the Green Transformation Day event series will also include discussions on green credit, green bonds, renewable energy, green transportation, and green export./.