GHG inventory: Green passport in international trade

The training course aims to help businesses fully understand legal requirements and emission calculation methods, and to prepare for green standards being applied in many international markets. This event is part of the program titled “For the National Green Environment 2025”.

Supporting businesses to change their mindset

Dr. Hoang Hiep, Director of the Institute for Green Growth Research (Vietnam National University of Agriculture), said that 2025 marks an accelerated phase in fulfilling the Net Zero commitment for 2050 that Vietnam announced at COP26.

He stated that greenhouse gas inventory is not a procedural step but a basis for businesses to identify emission sources, adjust production activities, and proactively adapt to global market requirements. In particular, as the EU implements the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the United States strengthens its green regulations for imports, transparency of carbon footprints becomes a condition for maintaining the competitiveness of goods.

Emphasizing that greenhouse gas inventories can be considered a “green passport” in international trade, Dr. Hiep expressed concern that businesses may lack standardized data, which could lead to legal risks and challenges in joining supply chains with emission-governance requirements. Therefore, the training course needs to help businesses shift their mindset, moving from a reactive approach to proactively meeting market standards.

The Institute for Green Growth Research commits to supporting Ninh Binh Province in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through four key tasks: building a centralized carbon data platform, establishing a mechanism for regular technical support to update standards, facilitating connections to international carbon markets, and strengthening communication about green products and ESG-compliant businesses.

The database, expected to be developed by the Institute, includes emission information from five key sectors: energy; transportation; Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU); Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU); and waste, along with data on potential carbon credit generation and enterprise-level emissions.

A foundation for businesses to access emission reduction programs

Nguyen Tuan Hung, Deputy Director of the Ninh Binh Department of Agriculture and Environment, acknowledged that climate change is exerting strong pressure on socio-economic development. In recent years, the province has been affected by storms, floods, salinity intrusion, and extreme weather events. Meanwhile, the requirement for greenhouse gas inventory under new regulations poses significant pressure on production facilities due to a lack of specialized personnel, complex calculation methods, and constantly revised standards.

After consolidation, Ninh Binh has 80 facilities required to conduct greenhouse gas inventory. To date, the Department has appraised reports of 35 facilities and is reviewing reports from 33 others, with 12 units yet to submit. Departments and sectors in the province have also proposed adding approximately 50 major energy-consuming facilities to the inventory list starting in 2026.

Hung said that Decree 119/2025/ND-CP requires businesses to prepare inventory reports every 2 years, starting with the 2024 cycle, and submit them to the provincial People’s Committee before March 31 each year, thereby requiring businesses to be more proactive in collecting and standardizing emission data.

In this context, Ninh Binh is implementing several activities under the program titled “For the national green environment during 2025–2026”, including the greenhouse gas inventory training course conducted in cooperation with the Institute for Green Growth Research. All participating enterprises are subject to inventory requirements, reflecting their interest in legal obligations and the trend toward standardizing carbon footprint reporting in supply chains.

Hung requested businesses to focus on absorbing the technical content, engage actively with instructors, and apply the knowledge directly to their reporting processes. He assessed that a greenhouse gas inventory is an important foundation for businesses to access emission-reduction programs, participate in the carbon market, and minimize compliance risks during a period when green standards are gradually becoming mandatory.

Sharing the same view, Hoang Sy Tuan, Head of Administration and Human Resources at Thang Loi Co., Ltd., said that the company maintains a commitment to environmental compliance and emphasizes social responsibility. The company aims to reduce emissions, expand waste recycling, and increase energy efficiency in both production and office operations. Thang Loi is prioritizing investments in clean technology, adopting circular-economy models, and encouraging employees to limit single-use plastic use.

The company also strictly controls pollution sources, invests in standard wastewater and emissions treatment systems, and plants additional trees on its premises while organizing community environmental activities. According to Tuan, the training course is an opportunity for the business to improve its emission assessment skills, thereby better meeting legal requirements and green development strategies.