Vietnamese Prime Minister arrives at COP28 with packed schedule

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has arrived in Dubai for the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) with a clear message from the Government of Vietnam through a series of activities contributing to the global pressing issues and high-ranking meetings.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse welcomed at Dubai, UAE on Nov 30 (local time). Photo: VGP

It’s expected that the Prime Minister will deliver speeches at important meetings, forums, and sessions under the auspices of COP28; hold bilateral meetings with heads of state and international organizations; and engage in bilateral programs with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet told local media that Prime Minister Chinh will make some announcements at COP28 regarding Vietnam’s response to climate change and adaptation. 

As planned, the Vietnam Pavilion COP28 will host a series of activities to support domestic and international partners during the world’s most important climate event until December 12.

On December 1, a ceremony will be held to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); and mobilize finance to meet Vietnam’s commitments on climate change.

On December 3, The day will be dedicated to Health/Relief, Recovery and Peace with a focus on strengthening Vietnam's national adaptation frameworks to deliver on adaptation ambition in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – the biggest global fund dedicated to assist developing countries in adapting to climate change.

Dialogue on Facility Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Reporting to Drive Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)/Net Zero Implementation and Business Engagement will be held with  partners, namely Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan (MOEJ), Denmark, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand.

Another topic of the day will be Using Progress Reporting to Advance Adaptation Action: How Countries Track and Assess Progress, which is a session with the support of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network helping enhance national adaptation planning and action in developing countries.

There will also be a discussion on the Role of Financial Institutions in Promoting Finance to Accelerate the Implementation of Net Zero Emissions Commitments in Vietnam with its partners which are the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ).

There will be different sessions held at Vietnam Pavilion at COP28. Photo: UNDP

On December 4, the focus of discussion will be Finance, Trade, Gender Equality, and Accountability. It’s Mobilizing Finance for Nature-based Solutions with HSBC Vietnam and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Vietnam. Another theme of the day will be Impact of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on Vietnam’s Energy Transition and its Regional Implications held with UNOPS.

Meanwhile, the World Bank and UNOPS will co-host a discussion on Implementing Vietnam’s Net Zero Emissions Target: The Role of the Carbon Market and the Credit Offset Mechanism. Another session on Building a Climate-Resilient Health System in Vietnam will be held with assistance of UNDP and the World Health Organization (WHO).

A discussion on Green Transformation in Road Transport will be organized in the support of UNDP while that on Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Transformation will take place in partnership with UNDP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

On this occasion, the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) will help organize a talk on Mobilizing Climate Finance Resources, Capacity Building and Technology Innovation Transfer to Adapt to Climate Change. While WWF Vietnam supports Energy Transition toward Net Zero: Efforts and Actions from Relevant Stakeholders session.

On December 6, Multilevel Action, Urbanization and Built Environment/Transport will be covered with different sessions such as Business Dialogue for Green Transition and Business Engagement in Net Zero and NDC Implementation in Vietnam with partners of JICA, WB, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV).

Other talks on Developing Vietnam’s new Energy Outlook Report by HSBC Vietnam will be chaired by UNDP and Empowering Youth to Deliver the Just Energy Transition and Climate Change Education in Vietnam by BloombergNEF. At the same time, a debate on UNOPS and Carbon Trust-supporting the Future of Energy in Southeast Asia: Unlocking the Potential of Wind Power will take place.

Catalyzing Energy Transition in Southeast Asia: Capacity Building and Partnership Development for Clean Energy will be on agenda under the organization by UNOPS and the Australian National University (ANU). 

On December 9,  Critical Role of Energy Efficient Cooling in Accelerating Decarbonization in Vietnam in the support of UNOPS and Impacts of Climate Change in Asian Deltas: Finding Common Solutions by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI).

On December 10, there will be sessions on Sustainable Aquaculture and Biodiversity/Nature-based Solutions and Nature-based Adaptation: Towards Climate Goals and Sustainable Agriculture in Vietnam supported by UNDP and GIZ, respectively.

To prepare for the coverage of COP28 issues during the two-week conference, experts from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security will provide on-the-ground information updates to reporters around the globe, especially in the Mekong region and the Middle East and North Africa.

Journalists from Vietnam and Thailand – two key countries in the Lower Mekong region’s climate concerns – are expected to produce stories that reflect the pressing issues in their countries, what they need to do in short- and long-term strategies, how the government copes with such matters, and what international partners could help them.

The stories will be written in the support of EJN’s 2023 Climate Change Media Partnership Virtual Reporting Fellowship – the network has provided fellowships to more than 400 journalists from developing countries to attend and report on the annual UN climate summits and other important events.