On October 2, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the National Steering Committee for the implementation of Viet Nam's commitments at COP26 (COP26 Steering Committee) chaired the 5th meeting of the Steering Committee. Attending were: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee; leaders of ministries, branches and central agencies.
At the 5th meeting, the Steering Committee reviewed and commented on: Report on assessing the implementation of Viet Nam's commitments at COP26 in the past period and key tasks in the near future; Reports and presentations by a number of ministries, branches and agencies on the implementation of commitments at COP26.
The delegates focused on evaluating what has been done and what has not been done, especially the results of implementing the tasks set out at the 4th meeting of the Steering Committee, the results of implementing JETP (Just Energy Transition Partnership) and AZEC (Asia Zero Emission Community), etc.; difficulties and obstacles; objective and subjective reasons; propose tasks and solutions in the coming time to effectively implement the commitments at COP26, especially give comments on amending the legal framework to facilitate investment from businesses and international investment in energy transition.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a concluding speech at the 5th meeting of the National Steering Committee to implement Viet Nam's commitments at COP26 – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
* Four results in climate change response
Analyzing the context of the situation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that climate change is becoming more and more extreme, developments are becoming more and more complicated, the consequences are increasing, and it takes a lot of effort and money to overcome; climate change response is an urgent task that no country can do alone. Contributing to climate change response, green development and energy transition is something that cannot be ignored, cannot be left out and must be done effectively.
Regarding the results achieved in the efforts to respond to climate change and implement the COP26 commitments, the Prime Minister assessed that we have done well and achieved many positive results that have been highly appreciated by the international community in building institutions, human resource training, organization and implementation, identification and implementation of programs and projects, overcoming the consequences of natural disasters. Need to act faster to respond to climate change.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha spoke at the meeting
The Prime Minister outlined "4 good points" in responding to climate change in the past time. Those are:
Firstly, awareness and action have been unified and strengthened, the whole political system has joined hands to respond to climate change, towards the goal of safety from natural disasters, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and bringing net emissions to "0" as committed.
Secondly, promptly institutionalize the Party's guidelines and promptly implement commitments (the contents of commitments and the implementation of commitments at COP26 have been quickly integrated and concretized into legal documents). legal documents, policies, strategies, and plans to be implemented synchronously from the central to local levels), typically implementing a program of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice.
The Government, the Prime Minister, ministries and branches, according to their competence, issue strategies, plans, plans, and development projects for specific sectors and fields, creating a policy corridor and an important basis for implementation. rapid and timely implementation of Viet Nam's commitments at COP26 and implementation of a just energy transition.
Thirdly, international cooperation has been promoted, attracting attention, commitments, and implementation of specific projects from international partners; Many global corporations and enterprises with high economic and technological potential and low greenhouse gas emission technologies have come to Viet Nam to explore investment opportunities in the fields. "The strategies of the country and of businesses and investors must be aligned to create development momentum," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for intensified efforts to combat climate change, particularly through green development, clean energy transition, and fulfilling COP26 commitments - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Fourthly, there has been a marked change in awareness and action, self-awareness, and increased responsibility in environmental protection, emission reduction, and climate change response of each citizen.
However, besides the achievements, the implementation, participation in responding to climate change and energy transition is still uneven, the majority do well but some do not do well. The Working Groups to support the implementation of JETP have been established but are slow to implement their assigned functions and tasks. Policies and regulations related to tasks and solutions to implement commitments at COP26 and energy transition are generally still limited compared to development requirements.
"The mechanism must be clear, the infrastructure must be smooth, and the management must be intelligent. The development of regulations in this area must be based on an innovative and developmental mindset, stemming from reality, closely following reality, and respecting reality. Taking reality as a measure. With new and difficult issues such as climate change response, there must be an appropriate mindset and approach, both doing and learning from experience, gradually expanding, not being perfectionist, not being impatient." the Prime Minister emphasized.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Do Duc Duy, a Standing Member of the National Steering Committee for implementing Viet Nam's commitments at COP26, recently presented a report at a committee session - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
* Digital transformation, green transformation – an inevitable direction
At the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that digital transformation, green transformation, energy transformation, and greenhouse gas emission reduction are inevitable and irreversible trends. Therefore, greater efforts and higher determination are needed to better respond to climate change, including green development, clean energy transition, and implementation of COP26 commitments.
At the same time, it is necessary to mobilize all resources, the whole society and the entire population to participate, in which connecting and mobilizing resources from international sources, green financial flows, technology transfer, knowledge, and experience from countries, and knowledge are needed. international organizations and investors are very important.
Along with that, there must be a global, comprehensive, and people-centered approach, putting the interests of the nation and the people first, while promoting international cooperation, upholding multilateralism, and combining forces. national strength with the strength of the times; all policies must be directed towards people and businesses, people and businesses actively participate, implement and enjoy the results; for the goal of sustainable development of the country, for a prosperous and happy life for the people.
Identifying 5 general task groups, the Prime Minister requested to continue focusing on completing institutions, policies and laws; research and perfect the mechanism to attract resources, especially public-private partnership resources, non-state resources, and effectively use resources to avoid waste.
Promote scientific research, development and transfer of technology, promote innovation; develop new management methods, manage green transition, green growth, develop a circular economy; focus on training and developing high-quality human resources, grasping new technologies; promote international cooperation.
The Prime Minister noted the task of forming and developing a clean energy industry, including developing supporting industries and equipment to produce renewable energy, biomass energy, green hydrogen, green ammonia, etc.
The Prime Minister requested the Ministries of Industry and Trade, Transport, Construction, Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, ministries and branches based on their functions, tasks, and powers to continue implementing the general tasks and specific tasks. The body has been identified in the Project on tasks and solutions to implement the results of the COP26 Conference that has been approved by the Prime Minister, the implementation must be proactive, creative, and flexible to suit the situation.
Overview of the 5th meeting
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (the Standing Body of the Steering Committee) regularly statistics and urges ministries and agencies to seriously and on schedule implement and ensure the quality of assigned tasks.
The Prime Minister also assigned specific tasks to ministries and branches in implementing the JETP Declaration and implementing the AZEC Initiative; The Ministry of Industry and Trade shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries and branches in, reviewing and selecting projects to be implemented immediately within the framework of JETP and AZEC; complete the approval process of relevant proposals, decrees, and circulars, and promote green energy transition.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall organize the effective implementation of the Project on Sustainable Development of 1 million hectares specializing in high-quality and low-emission rice associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta region to 2030; promote cooperation, prepare, negotiate, sign and implement agreements on the purchase and sale of emission reductions from forests, etc.
The Ministry of Transport shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with ministries, branches and localities in promoting the implementation of the Action Program on Green Energy Transition, reducing carbon and methane emissions in the transport sector.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment is assigned to implement tasks to realize green growth goals associated with socio-economic development, and mobilize resources for green growth.
The Ministry of Finance promotes green finance quickly and promptly. The State Bank of Viet Nam promotes green credit capital sources. The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs researches and perfects legal regulations, and promotes action policies to reduce negative impacts on vulnerable groups affected by the process of economic transformation.
The Ministry of Science and Technology continues to prioritize resources to implement scientific and technological tasks under national-level science and technology programs related to climate change response.
The Committee for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises directs corporations and parent companies to continue promoting digital transformation, strengthening the application of science and technology, and innovating to create driving forces for low-emission development and spread to key industries and sectors.