Many provinces and cities record the highest temperature in history
According to Mr. Tang The Cuong, Director of the Department of Climate Change - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, climate change is having very complicated developments.
In Vietnam, many provinces and cities recorded the highest temperature in history. Especially in Dong Ha (Quang Tri), the temperature on April 28, 2024 was measured at 44 degrees Celsius - the highest value since 1976 to date.
The rapid urbanization process in recent times has increased the effect of "urban heat island" (an phenomenon that occurs when the temperature in urban areas is significantly higher than in surrounding rural areas), with a difference of 3-5°C during peak hot days. The reason is due to low vegetation coverage, high construction density in urban areas, the use of many types of heat absorption materials and the urban area focusing on production and living activities of densely populated communities.
The increase in temperature along with urbanization has led to a sharp increase in the demand for cooling equipment. Power consumption for cooling is currently around 71.4TWh - accounting for 25.2% of total national power consumption and is expected to increase by 3 times by 2050. On the other hand, this also leads to a sharp increase in the use of refrigerants (mainly used in the cooling industry) that destroy the ozone layer and cause global warming.
This issue poses an urgent need for the Government in managing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting ozone layer, implementing goals to respond to global climate change.
Co-deploying many measures to deal with climate change
Currently, the Department of Climate Change is actively cooperating with international partners such as ETP, the United Nations East Asia - Pacific Commission (ESCAP), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) to develop a comprehensive and comprehensive National Action Program on Cooulation (NCAP) for Vietnam.
Mr. Tang The Cuong said: The program will help effectively manage controlled substances according to the Montreal Protocol on ozone layer protection and solutions for the transition to low-carbon technology, energy saving, sustainable cooling. This also contributes to the implementation of the NDC's target and towards the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The Vietnamese Government, together with international partners such as the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership Program (ETP), is developing a National Action Program on Coefficient (NCAP).The goal is to reduce emissions from the cooling industry by 68% and reduce HFC use by 80% by 2045, while increasing energy efficiency and accelerating the application of investter technology.
NCAP sets a clear roadmap: freeze HFC consumption by 2028 to 14 million tons of CO2td, then reduce by 10% by 2029 and 80% by 2045.
In addition, the program also aims to transform technology in equipment such as air conditioners, heat pumps, and industrial refrigeration.
Vietnam has participated in many global initiatives such as the Montreal Protocol, the committed committed committed to committed to the environment and the sustainable development of the environment. Vietnam has participated in many global initiatives such as the Montreal Protocol, the committed committed to committed to the Global Cooperation at COP28. These steps demonstrate a strong commitment to building a sustainable and climate-friendly cooling system.
NCAP is designed according to a life cycle of four stages, in which 2024 to 2028 is the pilot stage of platform recovery, towards the completion of the refrigerant recycling system from 2040 to 2044.
According to calculations, if successfully implemented, NCAP can help reduce 10TWh of electricity by 2030 and 69TWh by 2050, equivalent to the annual output of four large power plants. At the same time, it will reduce 97% of greenhouse gas emissions from the cooling sector, equivalent to 20 million tons of CO2 by 2050. The program also opens up opportunities to participate in the carbon market, issue green bonds and attract foreign investment.
Combining smart cooling solutions with a green grid will help Vietnam reduce emissions from this sector, contributing significantly to achieving the 2030 NDC targets and the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
Mr. John Robert Cotton - Deputy Director of ETP Program - emphasized that NCAP focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam through green, sustainable cooling activities. This will require many solutions to cool urban areas, support vulnerable communities in rural areas and intervene in the drug and food supply chain.
In addition, in Vietnam, afforestation activities have always received attention, especially in the context of Vietnam being heavily affected by climate change, floods, landslides... continuing to increase in both intensity and frequency. When forests are lost, nature is unbalanced and humans also face the consequences: Floods, droughts, biodiversity loss, climate change. "Planting 1 billion trees", "Forest leaves", "Forest Green Lens"... are the messages that have attracted much attention in recent years.
"Increasing coverage of plants can help reduce the impact of climate change. Green trees are valuable no matter where they are grown. In many forest planting programs taking place across the country, PanNature's "Green Forest" has chosen to focus on restoring indigenous forests in the Northwest region, home to Thai, Mong communities and rare plant species such as white-cheeked black-cheeked langurs.
Len Green Forest is not only a journey to green the forest, but also a step to build a harmonious relationship between people and nature - Mr. Trinh Le Nguyen - Director of the Center for People and Nature ( PanNature) and Chairman of the Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Fund - shared.
