Op-Ed: From Commitment to Action – Viet Nam’s Climate Adaptation for Lives and Livelihoods

Editor’s Note: On the occasion of Climate Week (September 21–28), the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper is pleased to present an article by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Viet Nam, Ms Ramla Khalidi, echoing the call for joint action toward a sustainable future.

This September, Viet Nam marked its 80th National Day. And there was a lot to celebrate. Nearly four decades of “Đổi Mới” have ushered remarkable socio-economic achievements. Rapid economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty, and strong human development gains have transformed lives across generations. Yet, much like other countries, a defining challenge remains: how to sustain growth while adapting to intensifying climate impacts (Figure 1).

We know the score. Viet Nam is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Rising seas, stronger storms and shifting rainfall threaten hard-won development progress. Viet Nam recognizes this very well. In order to contribute to mitigation of adverse climate impacts, it has made a strategic commitment:  to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Adaptation is central to that path. Not only to protect communities, but to safeguard development gains, sustain prosperity, and ensure that no one is left behind.

The Updated National Adaptation Plan 2025

On 4 September 2025, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) announced Vietnam’s updated National Adaptation Plan (NAP), making the country the 65th among nearly 150 developing countries to publish its plan (https://napcentral.org/submitted-NAPs). The 2025 NAP sets out how Viet Nam will transform international commitments into concrete actions, linking adaptation directly to its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The plan is not just a vision. It provides measurable indicators, a five-year update cycle, and strategies for resource mobilization, and assignment of responsibilities. It bridges the gap between planning and financing – addressing one of the most the critical hurdles in climate action.

National NAP portal as an effective and transparent M&E tool

An important advancement in implementation is the launch of the NAP Portal (https://adaptation.dcc.mae.gov.vn/), managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (formerly the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment). The online portal connects ministries and provinces, collects annual provincial and sectoral reports, and standardizes data on adaptation efforts across different levels of government. By enhancing transparency, standardizing data collection, and ensuring continuous monitoring, the system strengthens policy planning and access to international finance.

Systems matter, but what matters most is their utility.  Regular updates and associated training for public officials are essential to ensure data accuracy and effective policy planning.

 NAP pathways to implementation

The NAP acknowledges challenges in implementation. Capacity and resources vary across regions. Infrastructure for forecasting, early-warning and climate-health data remains limited. And private sector engagement in adaptation has yet to reach its potential.

Addressing these gaps requires strategic shifts toward transformative solutions, including adaptation in vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, environment, health, and transportation, as well as early warning systems to protect communities before disasters strike. It also calls for nature-based adaptation, such as mangrove restoration that integrates local knowledge, and innovative impact-based financing, including blended finance and public–private partnerships, to unlock investment in priority sectors like agriculture and infrastructure.

The NAP should serve as a platform for bankable projects that attract private capital. Importantly, Viet Nam should also integrate Loss and Damage (L&D) tracking into its national systems, aligning with global frameworks to access the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) and ensure transparent support for affected communities. A robust M&E system to track progress for timely and effective corrections is essential.

UNDP support to climate resilience

UNDP is proud to accompany Viet Nam in advancing its NAP implementation through innovation and strategic partnerships. Our support focuses on strengthening early warning systems and the national framework for climate services; building integrated digital monitoring and evaluation platforms; standardizing investment prioritization and financing tools that incorporate private sector engagement as well as gender and social safeguards; preparing investment-ready adaptation project pipelines; and clarifying adaptation finance pathways, in line with UNFCCC guidance, to facilitate access to the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and the FRLD.

A cornerstone of UNDP’s support is advancing gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). Viet Nam developed GESI guidance tailored to the national context. It is now time to make the guidance a mandatory criterion in both monitoring and financing mechanisms, ensuring resilience reaches remote mountainous communities, and women-headed households.

Resilience at the heart of development

Successful adaptation will not be measured in reports and numbers alone, but in whether communities can withstand climate events and thrive despite them. Resilience must be embedded into every development decision at all levels and sectors, from infrastructure and agriculture to health and urban planning.

The updated NAP has laid a solid foundation and clear direction for action. If Viet Nam continues on this path, it will not only achieve its net-zero target and high-income aspirations, but also stand as a model of climate adaptation worldwide.

We commend the leadership of the Department of Climate Change at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, for guiding the development and updating of Viet Nam's NAP. We recognize that this effort was made possible through the support of the Green Climate Fund, whose contribution has been instrumental in advancing climate resilience in Viet Nam.

At UNDP, we are honored to be Viet Nam’s partner on this journey. Together, we can ensure adaptation is not an afterthought, but a cornerstone of sustainable development for generations to come.