Hanoi (VNA) -𒊎 Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh said after 30 years of participating in the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, Vietnam has been internationally recognised as an active and highly responsible member in managing and eliminating ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases, achieving many important results.
According to statistics, Vietnam has eliminated the consumption of the equivalent of 220 million tons of CO2.
Speaking at a conference celebrating 30 years of Vietnam implementing the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol on September 16, Thanh said shortly after joining the Convention and the Protocol in 1994, Vietnam launched the National Programme for the Gradual Elimination of Ozone-Depleting Substances in 1995. It also established the National Programme Office to coordinate and implement activities to eliminate substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol from 1996.
Through activities to eliminate ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases, Vietnam annually contributes to reducing emissions by more than seven million tonnes of CO2 and equivalent greenhouse gases. It has trained about 10,000 state management officials, businesses, lecturers and technicians.
On June 11, 2024, the Prime Minister issued a national plan on the management and elimination of ozone-depleting substances and controlled greenhouse gases. The plan has integrated sustainable cooling activities, encouraged the use of energy-saving cooling equipment and the use of substances with low or zero global warming potential.
Illustrative photo. (Source: Vietnam+)
“If implemented according to the roadmap, by 2045 Vietnam will reduce emissions by more than 11 million tonnes of carbon, contributing to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Thanh.
While Vietnam’s 30-year efforts under the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol have been internationally recognised, there are still obstacles, said Tang The Cuong, head of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry.
For example, although Vietnam has established a system of policies and laws on ozone layer protection, as well as management of ozone-depleting substances and controlled greenhouse gases, there is still a lack of technical regulations for effective implementation.
Regarding human resources, there is a shortage of qualified and experienced officials in state management agencies, and experts and technicians with in-depth knowledge of new technologies.
In terms of resources and technology, many Vietnamese enterprises do not have sufficient financial resources to convert to new and modern technology.
To implement the National Plan and the commitments that Vietnam has participated in more effectively, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh emphasized that the country needs to improve institutions and policies on management, elimination of controlled substances and promulgate standards, regulations and technical guidelines. It also needs to strengthen inter-sectoral coordination in inspection and supervision of law enforcement, strengthen control of import and export and the use of controlled substances, in which import and export management agencies, market management agencies and customs forces play crucial roles.
Along with that, Vietnam needs to support and encourage technology conversion activities using climate-friendly substances, promote the collection, recycling, reuse, and treatment of controlled substances according to the Montreal Protocol./.
Vietnamese airlines have worked hard to implement the net zero emission targets by using new generation aircraft in their operation, which are more environmentally friendly thanks to advanced technologies.
Ho Chi Minh City is building a project to restructure its industry towards sustainable development in the 2025-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, prioritising the use of high technology and reducing emissions towards net zero emissions by 2050.
A business forum on green transition and finance towards net-zero emissions by 2050 was held in Hanoi on April 11, bringing together hundreds of representatives from ministries, agencies, organisations and businesses.
If businesses do not reduce carbon content per unit of product, the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods will decrease significantly in the world market, experts have told a recent business forum in Hanoi.
Floodwater levels in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are high and will continue to rise this month, especially in upstream areas, according to the hydraulic works management and construction department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Conservation efforts to restore habitat and boost the population of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park are finally showing progress, with the cranes and many other rare wild birds coming back to the park.
Torrential rains from the night of July 31 to early August 1 triggered flash floods and landslides across several communes in Dien Bien province, leaving at least two people dead and eight others missing.
Transitioning to a circular economy not only offers a sustainable development path for Ho Chi Minh City but also serves as a pivotal step toward establishing a fully green economy.
An exhibition featuring 100 green, recycled, and circular economy models and products from 50 businesses and educational establishments took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31, as part of the local green transition forum and recycle day 2025.
Regional solidarity and cooperation are the key factor for the effective implementation of wildlife protection regulations. Only through sustainable cooperation, innovative approaches, and collective action can biodiversity be safeguarded for the present and future generations, an Vietnamese official has said.
Hanoi has approved a comprehensive plan to restore the environmental quality and develop four major urban rivers – the To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, and Set reverine environments.
The Javan pangolin is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book as critically endangered and is protected under Group IB – a category reserved for forest species facing an extremely high risk of extinction and requiring strict conservation measures.
As a key member of the core group of 18 countries, initiated by Vanuatu, Vietnam engaged in advocating for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution N.77/276, requesting for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Following the resolution's adoption, Vietnam fully participated in all procedural steps for the first time, from submitting written proposals to presenting directly at the court’s hearings.
The wild elephant population in Da Nang includes a full developed herb of mature males, females, and calves. To date, the herd has grown to nine individuals.
Conservation efforts here have become a model, helping to save millions of turtle hatchlings and promoting Con Dao as a member of the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asia Turtle Site Network.
As part of its drive to fulfil its net zero emissions commitment by 2050, Vietnam is fast-tracking the development of a legal corridor to launch a pilot carbon market by the end of 2025, according to the Department of Climate Change.
Under the plan, from 2025 to 2026, the city will complete mechanisms and policies to support businesses in switching to green vehicles, expand the electric and green-energy bus network, and build charging stations. The targeted proportion of green buses is set at 10% in 2025 and 20–23% in 2026.
Storm Comay, the fourth in the East Sea this year, was at around 16.7 degrees North and 118.3 degrees East, in the east of the East Sea's northern waters as of 4am on July 24.
The disaster risk warning level for flash floods, landslides, and ground subsidence due to heavy rains and flows is rated at level 1, except in Nghe An, where it is raised to level 2.
