Solutions for Vietnam to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2050

On October 15-16, the Vietnam Agriculture&Nature Newspaper, in collaboration with TH Group, organized a training workshop titled "Enhancing media capacity on carbon neutrality" in Nghe An Province.

The opening session was attended by Mr. Nguyen Nhu Khoi, Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial People’s Council; Mr. Nguyen Tuan Quang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Climate Change; Mr. Nguyen Danh Hung, Deputy Director of the Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Environment; Mr. Phan Van Thang, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio-Television; representatives of TH Group; and 40 journalists, editors, and media professionals from central and local press agencies.

Communication as a core solution

During the training, participants showed great interest in Vietnam’s policy framework on carbon neutrality. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Quang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Climate Change (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), noted that at COP26, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh committed that Vietnam would achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Following the conference, the Prime Minister established a national steering committee to implement Vietnam’s COP26 commitments and approved an action plan with specific measures.

According to Dr. Quang, five main groups of solutions have been identified to realize the Net Zero target: energy transition through the use of renewable and clean energy; efficient and economical use of energy and natural resources, promoting a circular economy and green production; forest and ecosystem development, including coastal ecosystems; carbon capture and storage; carbon pricing through carbon taxes and carbon markets.

He emphasized that Vietnam has already built a timely and comprehensive policy and legal framework for carbon neutrality. Ministries, sectors, localities, enterprises, and financial institutions have actively implemented Net Zero commitments and achieved significant progress.

However, Dr. Quang stressed that to achieve the 2050 goal, Vietnam must continue refining its legal framework, introduce incentive policies to attract private investment, and encourage the adoption of low-emission technologies and production methods.

“Most importantly, communication must be strengthened to raise awareness among government agencies, businesses, financial institutions, and the public, thereby building social consensus for implementing the Net Zero commitment,” he underlined.

Toward a low-carbon agriculture

In his presentation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Van Trinh, Director of the Institute of Agricultural Environment, highlighted that identifying, measuring, and managing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is essential for Vietnam to develop a green, sustainable, and internationally integrated agriculture.

GHG emissions not only harm the environment but also directly affect productivity, quality, and the reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products in international trade. Major partners such as the EU, Japan, and the United States have already established carbon standards as technical barriers. “If we fail to take control, Vietnamese agriculture will lose its place in global supply chains,” Dr. Trinh warned.

To mitigate emissions, the Institute has studied and applied specific practices in rice cultivation, such as alternate wetting and drying irrigation, rational use of organic fertilizers, and recycling straw into compost or biochar instead of burning. These practices can reduce methane emissions by 30-55%, improve soil fertility, and lower production costs.

One promising approach is adopting circular economy models in rice production. The CARICE model, developed by Dr. Trinh’s team, has demonstrated up to 40% emission reductions compared to traditional farming methods.

Dr. Trinh’s presentation outlined a clear pathway for Vietnamese agriculture in the new era linking research, measurement, and policy toward the common goal: reducing emissions, increasing absorption, and ensuring sustainable growth.

As carbon becomes a measurable and tradable asset, Vietnam’s agriculture must transform rapidly. Investment in emission-monitoring technologies, circular production models, and internationally recognized MRV systems will be key for Vietnam’s position in the global green economy.

Media as a bridge for sustainable change

In his opening remarks, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thach, Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Agriculture&Nature Newspaper, emphasized that the training program was designed to enhance journalists’ knowledge and skills empowering them to convey information, guide public opinion, and spread the values of sustainability in Vietnam’s green transition.

"Journalism serves as the bridge linking policy, science, business, and the community making the concept of ‘carbon neutrality’ more relatable and inspiring collective action for a greener, more sustainable Vietnam,” he said.

In the context of the global green era, Vietnamese media must not only reflect but also lead societal awareness of the circular economy, low-carbon agriculture, green consumption, and corporate responsibility.

TH Group – A pioneer in carbon neutrality

TH Group is among the few Vietnamese enterprises certified for carbon neutrality under the international PAS 2060:2014 standard, applied to its TH True Milk and TH True Water products.

The certification covers both direct and indirect emissions from energy use. Total emissions are neutralized through internal reduction efforts, technological innovation, and the use of clean energy.

Currently, TH Group has pledged to maintain carbon neutrality at two member companies until 2028 under the PAS 2060 standard, and later transition to the ISO 14068 standard. In the long term, the Group supports Vietnam’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Each year, TH recycles over 28,000 tons of dairy farm waste into organic fertilizer. The installation of rooftop solar systems and the replacement of fossil-fueled boilers with biomass energy have helped the company reduce over 7,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually affirming its role as a pioneer in Vietnam’s sustainable green transformation.