Under the framework of the Taiwan Studies Project “Capacity Building in
Training and Research on Low-carbon Economy in the context of Climate Change
for the National Economics University in Vietnam in
partnership with Universities and Research Institutes in Taiwan” in the period 2021-2024
funded by Ministry of Education, Republic of China (R.O.C),
via Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Vietnam, the National Economics University
has published a Monograph: LOW-CARBON ECONOMY TOWARDS NET ZERO:
THEORY AND PRACTICE.
There is now strong scientific
evidence that climate change is happening and being accelerated by human
activity. Climate risks and climate extreme events have wide-ranging impacts
across multiple dimensions of the economy.
Without urgent, effective and equitable mitigation actions, climate change will
increasingly threaten the health and livelihoods of people, ecosystem health
and biodiversity around the globe.
Climate change mitigation actions should be designed and conducted in the
context of sustainable development, equity, and poverty eradication, and rooted
in the development aspirations of the societies.
Signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed to pursue efforts to keep the
rise in global temperatures to well below 2°C and try to limit the temperature
increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2050 in Paris in 2015.
Ambitious target on Net Zero, committed at 26th
Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP26) in 2021, has been adopted by a number of
countries, including advanced economies, emerging and developing countries, and
regional groups. Countries are adopting diverse approaches across key
dimensions of their net zero targets. To meet the global climate goals, policy
makers, businesses, city administrators, civil society and the financial sector
all have a role to play.
Reaching net zero
emissions by 2050 is the inevitable development pathway of the world in the
future. This is mainly realized through a robust low-carbon transition towards
a low-carbon development pathway. By transitioning to a low-carbon economy
built on shifting
away from fossil fuels,
enhancement of energy efficiency, renewable energy and low-carbon technologies, promoting nature-based
solutions, circular
economy, sustainable production and consumption patterns as well as awareness
raising, countries can combat climate change while at the same time
strengthening the economy competitiveness and bring socio-economic benefits for
all. Accelerating the low-carbon transition is an urgent and
challenging task. It will require farsighted choices, wise investments and
enhanced international cooperation on technology development and climate
finance.
The transition to a low-carbon economy highlights
the growing role of non-state and sub-national actors including cities,
businesses, citizens, transnational initiatives, and public-private entities in
the global effort to address climate change.
The transition follows principles, processes and practices of a just transition
aimed at ensuring that no people, places, sectors, countries or regions are
left behind in the move from a high-carbon to a low-carbon economy. In this
transition, respect and dignity for vulnerable groups and indigenous people,
creation of decent jobs, social protection, employment rights, fairness in
energy access and use and social dialogue and democratic consultation with
relevant stakeholders play a critical role.
The book “Low-carbon Economy towards Net Zero: Theory
and Practice” has been compiled by a team of researchers of the National
Economics University, Vietnam. The book, structured in seven chapters, aims to provide
readers with updated information and in-depth analysis of various topics of
low-carbon economy towards net zero from theory to practice. The chapters of the book follow a uniform
format. The chapter begins with an introduction to the context and purpose of
the chapter, and then followed by specific contents of the chapter and
concludes with a summary of the main findings. In addition, tables, figures,
and boxes are presented to provide practical information and insights into
thematic topics. Selected case studies are also analyzed, including case
studies in Vietnam, Taiwan, European Union and others.
Chapter
1: Introduction
to Low-carbon Economy (by Bui Duc
Tho and Vu Thi Hoai Thu) presents an
overview of a
low-carbon economy towards net zero target from theoretical
and practical perspectives. The chapter provides a brief background and context
with respect to economic growth and greenhouse gas
emissions at a global scale, setting out some issues for further
discussion on carbon budget and net zero emission. Policies for a low-carbon economy towards net zero
and the case of Viet Nam in the transition to a low-carbon economy
towards net zero are explored in the chapter.
Chapter
2: Low-carbon
Energy (by Vu Thi Hoai Thu) focuses on theoretical and practical aspects of
low-carbon energy towards net zero. The chapter gives insights into the global energy supply and consumption
and global greenhouse gas emissions from energy sector.
The chapter analyses the energy transition for a low-carbon economy towards net
zero and policies for a low-carbon
energy towards net zero. Two case studies in Vietnam and Taiwan in the transition to low-carbon
energy for net zero are discussed in the chapter.
Chapter
3: Low-carbon
Business (by Ngo Thanh Mai) provides an analysis of low-carbon business from the theory to practice. The chapter presents an overview of business growth and carbon emissions and discuses corporate social responsibility in the climate change context. Putting business
sector in the net zero pathway requires business’s innovative strategies
towards net zero target. Two typical case studies of low-carbon business in Vietnam and Taiwan are
explored in the chapter.
Chapter
4: Low-carbon
Cities (by Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen) analyzes the relationship between cities and climate change, evaluates greenhouse gas emissions from cities
and indicates the role
of cities in the low-carbon development pathway. Cities should be aligned with
net zero target and thus policy
framework for low-carbon cities toward net zero plays a critical role. The
chapter also presents the implementation of low-carbon strategy in selected
cities in Vietnam.
Chapter
5: Nature-based
solutions towards a Low-carbon Economy (by
Nguyen Thuy Linh) indicates the importance of natural systems for
a low-carbon economy and net zero target. An overview of carbon stocks and
flows in different types of ecosystems is provided to explain the role of
natural systems in storing, accumulating and reducing carbon emission. The
potential impacts of nature-based solutions in climate change mitigation and
socio-economic developments are also discussed. Besides, the issues related to
the implementation, scaling up and mainstreaming nature-based solutions are
analyzed from both theoretical and practical aspects.
Chapter
6: Circular
economytowards a Low-carbon Economy (by Nguyen Dieu Hang) presents the concept and the principles of
circular economy and its role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Some strategies towards circular economy for businesses as well as for
the society are reviewed. The chapter discusses how to integrate circular
economy into policy framework for net zero emissions target and provides the
status of circular economy in some selected countries.
Chapter
7: Climate
finance towards a Low-carbon Economy (by
Dinh Duc Truong) provides an overview of climate finance,
the link between climate finance and low-carbon economy, the experience of
climate finance mobilization of different countries in the world and finally
the current state of climate finance in Vietnam.
In
general, low-carbon economy towards net zero is a broad topic with
interdisciplinary and cross-cutting issues. Although the authors have tried to
synthesize from the most up-to-date documents on this topic, the book
inevitably remains shortcomings. All comments from readers are welcome.
For more information and receiving a hard copy of
the Monograph, please contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Thi Hoai Thu, Department of
Climate Change Economics and Management, National Economics University
News and photos: Department of Climate
Change Economics and Management,
Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change and
Urban Studies