The Green One United Nations House in Hanoi was awarded in May a Platinum Lotus certification, the highest level in the market-based green building rating system (Photo: UN Vietnam)
Hanoi (VNA) –The USAID-funded project to promote energy efficiency in buildings was reviewedin Hanoi on June 20.
The project, part of the USAID Vietnam CleanEnergy Programme (VCEP), has been carried out in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hai Phong,Da Nang, and Can Tho over the past three years.
The project is managed by the Department ofScience, Technology and Environment under the Ministry of Construction (MoC),said Deputy Minister Phan Thi My Linh.
The outcomes of the project have contributedsignificantly to promoting energy saving and efficiency in the ministry’sconstruction works.
With the outcomes of the project, the ministrylaunched an action plan on green growth by 2020, with orientations through 2030in the sector, with focus on energy saving and efficiency in constructions.
USAID Vietnam Director Michael Greene saidbuildings account for 30 percent of the energy consumption globally, suggestingthat Vietnam pay special attention to this energy consumption and greenhouse gasemission because of its fast development and urbanisation.
Statistics show that the energy consumption inconstruction, including civil engineering, accounts for 36-37 percent of thenation’s total energy consumption.
The average annual increase of energyconsumption is estimated at 10 percent from 2016 – 2020, which also leads toincrease in energy use in construction and greenhouse gas emission.
The MoC has received active support frominternational organisations to promote energy consumption and efficiency in itsprojects via technical assistance, including the International FinanceCorporation under World Bank (IFC – WB), the State Secretariat for EconomicAffairs (SECO); the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the United NationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP), and the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID). -VNA
Measures to save energy in designing, constructing and operating buildings were the focus of discussion at a workshop organised by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment.
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a 102 million USD loan to the Vietnamese Government to support enterprises in adopting energy-efficiency technologies and practices.
A workshop took place in the northern city of Hai Phong on May 19, where a pilot voluntary agreement programme on efficient use of energy and a model of energy service company was introduced.
Vietnam needs a long-term renewable energy development vision in line with international commitments to improve its economic efficiency and environmental quality, mitigate climate change and modernise industries.
A workshop was co-held by the Ministry of Construction and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Hanoi on June 16 to implement the action plan for green growth in the building sector.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
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 Green One United Nations House in Hanoi was awarded in May a Platinum Lotus certification, the highest level in the market-based green building rating system (Photo: UN Vietnam) 
