Climate Park to be a 'living lab' for eco-education

New approach to climate change education

On April 15, the inauguration ceremony of the Climate Park was held at the University of Agriculture and Forestry (Thai Nguyen University), as part of the project "Learning center for emission neutrality and climate resilience in Northern Viet Nam (LEARN-VN)."

Climate Park has been developed on an area of more than 15 hectares within the campus of the University of Agriculture and Forestry. Over 30 demonstration models showcasing technical solutions have been implemented here, focusing on practical issues such as low-emission rice production, solar energy, meteorological stations, integrated garden - pond - livestock systems, beekeeping, and vermiculture.

Inspired by the 6R principles (Regenerate, Restore, Recycle, Replicate, Rethink, and Resilience), the Climate Park is expected to become an effective hub connecting the university, scientists, businesses, and the community, promoting knowledge transfer, the application of science and technology, and the scaling up of sustainable development models.

These models have been and continue to be integrated into training programs, enabling learners to access knowledge through hands-on, visual experiences that are easy to understand and highly applicable.

To date, the park has welcomed approximately 3,000 visitors from various domestic and international organizations. Once fully operational, it is expected to become a learning destination that inspires the community in their journey toward sustainable development and climate change adaptation.

In the coming period, the Climate Park will continue to be developed in a coordinated manner, including the construction of a central building to support indoor exhibitions, training, workshops, conferences, and workspaces. This will help enhance climate adaptation capacity and support local communities in transforming knowledge into concrete actions.

The Climate Park is not merely an infrastructure project; it also creates an open learning ecosystem, which is a living laboratory where knowledge is tested in practice and disseminated to the community. Participants can directly experience climate-resilient agroforestry models, nature-based solutions, circular economy practices, and initiatives aimed at emission neutrality.

Spreading green knowledge, inspiring community action

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hung Quang, Rector of the University of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized that the university is fully aware of its pioneering responsibility to link education with practice and to contribute to addressing major societal challenges, particularly climate change. Over the past three years, the university, together with Thai Nguyen University, has mobilized 16 hectares of campus land and engaged around 100 lecturers, researchers, and students to implement this project.

The Rector of the University of Agriculture and Forestry expressed confidence that the Climate Park is not only a project for the present but also a commitment to the future, where knowledge is transformed into action for a society that is sustainable and resilient to climate change.

Dr. Nguyen Quang Tan, Country Representative of the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) in Viet Nam, noted that climate change is no longer a distant issue but is already affecting every aspect of life, from agricultural production and resource management to daily activities. Therefore, raising awareness among communities is an urgent task.

According to Dr. Tan, what sets the Climate Park apart is its experiential approach, rather than relying solely on textbook-based theoretical knowledge. Here, learners can directly observe, participate in, and interact with models closely linked to real-life practices, such as waste treatment, sustainable agriculture, and efficient energy use.

Practical tools such as biogas digesters and vermiculture systems not only help recycle agricultural by-products and reduce emissions but also bring tangible economic benefits to local communities.

In addition, experiential activities such as the sensory path are designed to foster a closer connection between people and nature, thereby nurturing a natural and sustainable sense of environmental awareness and protection. Mr. Tan emphasized that when learners can “touch,” “do,” and explore on their own, knowledge about climate change becomes easier to understand, easier to remember, and more likely to be translated into concrete action.

The Country Representative of ICRAF in Viet Nam also expressed hope that, through experiences at the Climate Park, students will not only raise awareness but also actively apply what they have learned in their daily lives from small actions such as waste sorting and resource reuse to participating in green production models.

In doing so, these efforts will help promote environmentally friendly lifestyles, enhance climate change adaptation capacity, and contribute to achieving sustainable development goals within the community.

LEARN-VN project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through Bread for the World (BftW). In Viet Nam, the project has been approved by the Ministry of Education and Training. Thai Nguyen University serves as the host institution, and the project is implemented by the World Agroforestry Centre (CIFOR-ICRAF) in collaboration with the Institute of Forestry and Sustainable Development, representing the University of Agriculture and Forestry (Thai Nguyen University).