This was discussed at the “Green Economy Forum: Economic Development in the Context of Climate Change” organized by VOV Online Newspaper on January 26.
Mr. Dang Huy Dong – Former Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, Chairman and President of the Institute of Planning and Development
|
According to Mr. Dang Huy Dong, former Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, Chairman and President of the Institute of Planning and Development, the high-speed North-South railway projects and the international intermodal railway projects in the North and inter-regional in the South (Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of tens of billions of USD in the next 2-3 decades.
According to preliminary calculations by experts evaluating the North-South high-speed railway project, if Vietnam builds a dual-use railway for both freight and passenger transport, the project can access about $9 billion in concessional loans from the Global Green Environment Fund.
“The emissions from a container truck are equivalent to that of many cars, and hundreds of times more than rail transport,” shared Mr. Dong.
Regarding public transport and urban railways, both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will complete a network of about 500 km of urban railways (metro) combined with a second-grade public transport system (tram) which will replace millions of private cars and tens of millions of gasoline-powered motorbikes, reducing millions of tons of greenhouse gases annually.
Mr. Dong shared good news from international technology, that there is now a tram technology with rubber-tired electric bus-like engines with a capacity of 300-500 per trip, 20,000 passengers/hour, which has been and is being implemented in China; Dubai, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Kuching (Malaysia), Perth (Australia), etc., with a cost only 1/5 of that of Metro.
“Just be persistent in the policy of building a city based on public transport instead of personal transport, in cities with a population of 500,000 people or more, the goal of emission reduction is completely realistic,” said Mr. Dong.
Regarding the North-South high-speed railway, Mr. Ha Dang Son, Director of the Center for Energy and Green Growth Research, assessed that Vietnam’s logistics costs are high, leading to longer domestic freight transport time than from abroad to Vietnam. Therefore, the construction of railway infrastructure is necessary in the next phase.
According to Dr. Chu Duc Hoang, Chief of Office of the National Technology Innovation Fund, Vietnam is facing the challenge of having to act now to effectively respond to climate change, reduce losses and move towards sustainable development.
Economic losses due to climate change-related natural disasters in Vietnam in the period of 2016-2020 are estimated at about $2 billion/year, equivalent to 0.8% of GDP. It is forecast that by 2050, climate change could cause Vietnam to lose 12-14% of GDP.
Thuy Linh
Green Growth: Vietnam’s Inevitable Choice for Sustainable Development
“Joining the panel discussion on ‘Green Growth – A Global Trend, Inevitable Choice’, organized by the Government Newspaper on November 28th, representatives from ministries, local governments, and businesses unanimously affirmed that green growth is an irreversible trend and the only choice for Vietnam to achieve its sustainable development goals in the future.”
“The Green Finance Challenge: Transforming Vietnam’s Commercial Credit Landscape”
Green finance in Vietnam accounts for a mere 4-5% of commercial credit. Notably, over 80% of this green finance is directed towards sectors such as electricity, utilities, agriculture, and green buildings.
The Central Committee Unanimously Agrees to Restart the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project
The Central Executive Committee has agreed on a strategy to restart the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Project and continue researching the Nuclear Power Program in Vietnam. This decision underscores the country’s commitment to exploring alternative energy sources and strengthening its energy security. With a focus on safety and sustainability, this project aims to pave the way for a more diverse and resilient energy landscape in Vietnam.
“The Chili King” Phuc Sinh Shares Insider Stories on Attracting Million-Dollar Investments from Europe after a Decade of ESG Practices
Mr. Phan Minh Thong, Chairman of Phuc Sinh Company, reveals the behind-the-scenes story of attracting million-dollar investment from a Dutch fund.
“SeABank Tops the List of Best-Governed Companies in VLCA 2024”
On November 16, 2024, at the prestigious VLCA 2024 Awards, recognizing the best-listed companies, SeABank (HOSE: SSB) proudly claimed the top spot in the Top 10 Best Corporate Governance Companies (Midcap group). The bank also secured a place in the Top 10 Annual Reports in the Finance sector.
