THIS REPORT CONTAINS ASSESSMENTS OF COMMODITY AND TRADE ISSUES MADE BY USDA STAFF
AND NOT NECESSARILY STATEMENTS OF OFFICIAL U.S. GOVERNMENT POLICY
Voluntary Report – Voluntary - Public Distribution Date: September 09, 2022
Report Number: VM2022-0059
Report Name: Vietnam Issues the National Strategy on Climate Change by
2050 and the Action Plan on Methane Emissions Reduction by 2030
Country: Vietnam
Post: Hanoi
Report Category: Climate Change/Global Warming/Food Security
Prepared By: Nguyen Linh and Sarah Gilleski
Approved By: Ralph Bean
Report Highlights:
This report provides an unofficial translation of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Decision 896 dated July 26,
2022, to approve the National Strategy on Climate Change by 2050 and the Decision 942 dated August
5, 2022, to approve the Action Plan on Methane Emissions Reduction by 2030. These are important
policy documents for Vietnam’s low carbon future including for the agricultural sector.
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Background
Vietnam is a country that is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels, salinity
intrusion, drought, and extreme weather events, all have significant effects not only on Vietnam’s
agricultural sector, but also threaten food security, livelihoods, and overall economic growth. The
agricultural sector is also responsible for approximately 60 percent of the methane emissions produced
in Vietnam. The Government of Vietnam (GVN) considers climate change a top priority and has
developed numerous policy initiatives to address climate change adaptation and mitigation, to present
the country’s commitments to the international community, and to request technical and financial
support and assistance to respond to climate change.
In November 2021, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Chính announced ambitious goals at COP26, including
reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and joined the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane emissions
by 30 percent by 2030 compared to the base year of 2020. To achieve these goals, the GVN has been
working on various new policy documents. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
(MONRE) was the lead ministry to develop the National Strategy on Climate Change by 2050 and the
Action Plan on Methane Emissions Reduction by 2030.
National Strategy on Climate Change by 2050
On July 26, 2022, the Prime Minister approved the National Strategy on Climate Change by 2050 via
the PM Decision 896. The overall objective of the strategy is to adapt and mitigate the losses and
damages from climate change proactively and effectively reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions
with a goal of net zero emission by 2050, work together with the international community to protect the
climate, and develop climate adaptation techniques to enhance Vietnam’s economic resilience and
competitiveness.
The specific objectives are divided into climate change adaption and GHG emissions reduction. The
following are two ambitious objectives in emissions reduction.
By 2030, Vietnam will reduce total GHG emissions by 43.5 percent compared to the business-as-
usual scenario (BAU). Agricultural emissions will be reduced by 43 percent, and the total
emissions are not to exceed 64 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Forestry and
land use emissions will be reduced by 70 percent and increase their carbon capture by 20 percent
leading to the forestry sector having a total carbon capture of 95 million tons CO2e.
Manufacturing facilities with total emissions exceeding 2,000 tons CO2e must implement GHG
emission actions.
By 2050, total GHG emissions will reach net-zero, with the peak emission year set at 2035.
Agricultural emissions will be reduced by 63.1 percent and the total emissions will not exceed 56
million tons CO2e. The forestry and land use sector will reduce their emissions by 90 percent
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and gain 30 percent of carbon capture, with the forestry sector capturing 185 million tons CO2e.
Facilities with total emissions exceeding 200 tons CO2e must implement GHG emission actions.
Table 1: Total GHG Emissions by Sector to 2050
Unit: Million tons of CO
2
e
Sector
2014
2020
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Emissions projection as BAU
284.0
513.3
716.5
928.0
1,096.0
1,252.5
1,396.7
1,519.3
Emissions projection per the Strategy
Energy
171.6
247.0
360.8
456.6
539.5
494.4
345.0
101.1
Agriculture
89.8
88.3
75.3
63.9
62.2
63.8
61.5
56.4
Land use, Land-use
Change, and Forestry
-37.5
-45.0
-65.6
-95.3
-112.4
-134.0
-149.6
-185.2
Waste
21.5
13.1
9.81
11.81
10.81
9.8
8.8
7.8
Industrial Processing
38.6
67.3
76.3
86.5
78.1
68.0
50.0
20.0
Total Emissions
284.0
370.7
456.6
523.5
578.2
502.1
315.7
0.0
Source: Technical Report for Vietnam Strategy on Climate Change, Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment (MONRE)
Vietnam’s Action Plan on Methane Emissions Reduction by 2030
On August 5, 2022, Vietnam issued PM Decision 942 to approve the Action Plan on Methane Emissions
Reduction by 2030. The goal is to reduce total methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030 compared to
the emissions level in 2020 from crop production, animal husbandry, solid waste, water treatment,
petroleum exploitation, coal mining, and fossil fuel use.
By 2025, total methane emissions are not to exceed 96.4 million tons CO2e, down 13.3 percent
compared to 2020. Methane emissions in crop production are not to exceed 42.2 million tons CO2e,
animal husbandry emissions are not to exceed 16.8 million tons CO2e, solid waste emissions are not to
exceed 21.9 million tons CO2e, emissions from petroleum exploitation are not to exceed 10.6 million
CO2e, emissions from coal mining are not to exceed 3.5 million CO2e, and emissions from fossil fuel
use are not to exceed 1.3 million CO2e.
By 2030, total methane emissions are not to exceed 77.9 million tons CO2e, down 30 percent compared
to 2020. Methane emissions in crop production are not to exceed 30.7 million tons CO2e, animal
husbandry emissions are not to exceed 15.2 million tons CO2e, solid waste emissions are not to exceed
17.5 million tons CO2e, emissions from petroleum exploitation are not to exceed 8.1 million tons CO2e,
emissions from coal mining are not to exceed 2 million tons CO2e, and emissions from fossil fuel use
are not to exceed 0.8 million tons CO2e.
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Table 2: Methane Emissions Inventory 2020 and Goals for 2025 and 2030
Unit: million tons CO2e
No
Emission sources
2020
2025
2030
1
Energy
15.3
15.4
10.9
2
Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use
Husbandry
20.3
16.8
15.2
Biomass burning
1.9
42.2
30.7
Rice production
47.3
3
Waste
26.4
21.9
17.5
Total
111.3
96.4
77.9
Source: MONRE Technical Report on the Development of the Action Plan on Methane Emissions
Reduction by 2030
Other Key Ongoing Agricultural Climate Policy Actions
MARD is the lead agency to develop an action plan for methane emissions reduction for crop and
livestock production. The plan has been drafted and issued for public comment.
MONRE is the lead agency to develop the policy and management schemes for carbon credits, including
exchange/trade of emissions quota, and carbon credits from methane emission reduction.
MARD is leading the coordination with provincial governments to carry out investments for active
irrigation systems to implement mitigation options including Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD),
sustainable rice intensification, and mid-season drainage practices for methane emission reduction in
rice production.
MARD is leading the development and implementation of the conversion plan to make agricultural land
more resilient to and mitigate emissions from agricultural production. This includes converting
inefficient paddy rice to follow other production models including rice/ aquaculture (shrimp). As well
as having famers plant other profitable crops, such as fruit trees with the goal of reducing methane
emissions.
MARD develops and implements the circular plan for agricultural by-products and waste, enhancing
carbon sequestration in soil, clean paper, energy, and packaging production to reduce methane
emissions.
MARD will issue guidelines on feed rations for cattle to create a sustainable and productive livestock
industry while reducing methane emissions.
MARD is developing the guidelines for a methane emission inventory in agriculture, in line with the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) Guide.
