On August 30, 2022, the National Economics University in cooperation with Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Vietnam successfully organized the international workshop “Low-carbon Economy towards Net Zero in Vietnam and Taiwan” and publicly introduced the English Monograph "Low-carbon Economy towards Net Zero: Theory and Practice" compiled by a research team from the National Economics University 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 TECO in Vietnam.
Attending the workshop were representatives from Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Vietnam: H.E. Steven Lin, Deputy Representative; Mr. Chu To-Ming, Director of Education Division; Ms. Alice Chang, Third Secretary of Education Division; from Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (EPA): Mr. Hung-Teh Tsai, Deputy Minister; Ms. Lin-Yi Tsai, Director General, Office of Climate Change; Ms. Hui-Chen Chien, Director General, Department of Supervision Evaluation and Dispute Resolution and representatives from Office of Climate Change, Department of Waste Management, Department of Supervision Evaluation and Dispute Resolution, Recycling Fund Management Board; from Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam: Dr. Nguyen Sy Linh, Head of Department of Climate Change and Global Issues, Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE); from National Economics University (NEU): Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Chairman of NEU Council, Dr. Pham Sy Long – Deputy Head of Department of International Cooperation; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Duc Truong, Dean of Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change and Urban Studies; lecturers, students of NEU as well as researchers and practitioners from research institutes and non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho, Chairman of NEU Council delivers the opening speech
On behalf of the National Economics University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho thanked and welcome lecturers and experts who attended the workshop. In his welcome speech, Assoc. Dr. Bui Duc Tho affirmed that there is now strong scientific evidence that climate change is happening and being accelerated by human activity. Climate risks 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 world. 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. Reaching net zero emissions by 2050 is the inevitable development pathway of the world in the future. 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, awareness raising, countries can combat climate change while at the same time strengthening the economy competitiveness and bring socio-economic benefits for all.
Assoc. Dr. Bui Duc Tho also highlighted that at COP 26, Vietnam committed to achieve net zero emission by 2050. Vietnam's strong commitment and responsible contribution at COP26 have been highly appreciated by the international community, opening many opportunities for Vietnam to cooperate with countries and international development partners on promoting low-carbon growth and low-carbon economy in the coming time. As the world’s 21st largest economy, Taiwan plays a major role in both the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the global economic and trade system. Being an industrialized economy, Taiwan has many experiences in planning and implementing low-carbon energy, low-carbon technologies and low-carbon economy policies concerning the development of the Taiwan's energy intensive industries from perspective of climate change. With drastic development in the economy, technology, and education, Taiwan is one of the leading countries in Asia that is active in researching solutions to climate change mitigation as well as policies for a low-carbon economy. Therefore, sharing policies and practices on low-carbon economy towards net zero between Vietnam and Taiwan plays a critical role. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Duc Tho hopes that, in the future, the National Economics University will have more cooperation activities with Taiwanese institutions - not only in the field of low-carbon economy but also in many other fields.
H.E. Steven Lin, Deputy Representative from TECO in Vietnam delivers a welcome speech
H.E. Steven Lin emphasized that Vietnam and Taiwan are both vulnerable countries to climate change impacts in the Asia region; therefore, enhancing research and innovation, aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change, is a common and important goal for both countries. Sustainable reforms based on sustainable use of natural resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are the top priorities in the formulating and implementing socio-economic development policies. Taiwan always wishes to expand international cooperation with other countries including Vietnam. H.E. Steven Lin thanked the National Economics University and TECO in Vietnam for being a bridge connecting universities and research institutes in Taiwan.
Mr. Hung-Teh Tsai, Deputy Minister of Taiwan EPA delivers a welcome remark
In his welcome remarks, Mr. Hung-Teh Tsai highlighted that the United Nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have conducted many research that predict many negative pressures that climate change can put on humanity under different carbon emission scenarios. It seems that for all countries in the world, taking practical actions towards reducing emissions and achieving net zero emissions are the most effective ways to ensure a sustainable development for the present and in the future. To achieve this goal, promoting low-carbon economy is one of the important target. Mr. Hung-Teh Tsai indicated that over the years, Taiwan has had a lot of international cooperation to find solutions towards net zero emissions; and hopefully this opportunity of exchanging knowledge and experiences between National Economics University and research institutes in Taiwan will contribute to accelerating the progress towards net zero emissions in both countries.
Speakers from the National Economics University, Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration and Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment delivered presentations on the topic of low-carbon economy towards net zero in Vietnam and Taiwan.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Thi Hoai Thu - Faculty of Environmental, Climate Change and Urban Studies delivers a presentation.
Ms. Fei-Ting Lin, Specialist, Office of Climate Change, Taiwan EPA delivers a presentation
Ms. Syuan-Ting Huang, Associate Technical Specialist, Department of Waste Management, Taiwan EPA delivers a presentation
Ms. Wen-Yu Lin, Associate Technical Specialist, Recycling Fund Management Board, Taiwan EPA delivers a presentation
Mr. Chi-Hua Lee, Section Chief, Department of Supervision Evaluation and Dispute Resolution, Taiwan EPA delivers a presentation
Dr. Nguyen Sy Linh, Head of Department of Climate Change and Global Issues, ISPONRE delivers a presentation
In the open discussion, experts in the fields of low-carbon economy and climate change highly appreciated the content of the NEU publication “Low-carbon Economy towards Net Zero: Theory and Practice”. The book 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.
Experts and representatives from organizations, universities and research institutes in Vietnam and Taiwan exchanged and contributed ideas during the open discussion.
Through the workshop, management agencies, businesses, national and international experts had the opportunity to share ideas and experiences on the transition to a low-carbon economy. In addition, many valuable recommendations were proposed for the government, so that effective policies can be considered and introduced to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 in Vietnam.