Turning Viet Nam’s 2035 climate commitments into reality

These points are among those highlighted in the third updated draft of Viet Nam’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) for the 2026 - 2035 period, prepared under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

National commitments under the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP21, establishes the global legal framework defining the responsibilities of all Parties in responding to climate change. Central to this agreement are the Nationally Determined Contributions, which set out each country’s plans to limit global temperature rise and advance toward net-zero emissions. As of October 2025, sixty-six countries had submitted their NDC 3.0 to the UNFCCC Secretariat. A notable trend is that most NDCs now integrate economic development objectives into their 2035 emissions-reduction commitments to enhance feasibility during implementation.

Because newly submitted NDCs represent only about one-third of the 190-plus Parties to the Paris Agreement, current global mitigation pledges remain insufficient to determine whether the world is on track to limit warming to 1.5°C. Achieving this threshold requires a 60% reduction in global emissions from 2019 levels. Ahead of COP30, the United Nations has repeatedly urged all countries to raise their ambition and take stronger climate action.

For adaptation, most countries concentrate on food and nutrition security, water resources, health, and ecosystems as priority sectors. The number of NDCs addressing Loss and Damage has also grown, with more explicit identification of climate risks, impacts, and adaptation measures. Many NDCs outline plans for voluntary mitigation cooperation through carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, while several others intend to incorporate just energy transition principles into NDC implementation. Sea-level rise, ocean governance, and ocean-climate interactions are also drawing greater attention.

Viet Nam develops targets for 2026 - 2035

In 2025, Viet Nam is finalizing its NDC 3.0 as part of its obligations under the Paris Agreement. The update process is directed by the Prime Minister and led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Ministries and sectors, together with experts, scientific organizations, NGOs, research institutions, and development partners, have actively participated in multiple technical workshops and consultation meetings.

Tang The Cuong, Director General of the Department of Climate Change, emphasized that, in a global context where developing countries face major constraints - especially in accessing finance - Viet Nam’s NDC 3.0 has been designed with careful calculations, sound technical grounding, and an emphasis on implementable measures.

Technical groups have assessed Viet Nam’s progress toward its 2022 NDC, identified business-as-usual scenarios for key sectors, and formulated mitigation targets for 2026–2035 across energy, land use and forestry (LULUCF), waste, and industrial processes and product use (IPPU). The NDC will also quantify the additional investment needed to achieve sectoral mitigation goals. For example, the energy sector, which carries the most significant mitigation responsibility, is expected to require approximately USD 73.7 billion for the period 2026 - 2030 and USD 105.7 billion for 2031 - 2035.

Viet Nam’s updated NDC reflects significant efforts to improve its legal and policy foundations for climate mitigation and adaptation. Key milestones include the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection, the 2022 Decree on greenhouse gas reduction and ozone protection, amended in 2025, the National Climate Change Strategy to 2050, and national plans supporting the implementation of COP26 outcomes.

The NDC documents Viet Nam’s progress in adaptation and its remaining gaps. It emphasizes efficient and sustainable use of water and land resources, the development of climate-smart and climate-resilient agriculture, strengthened forest and ecosystem management, and the upgrading of climate-resilient infrastructure. It also highlights improvements in healthcare systems, social protection, gender equality, early warning systems, disaster prevention, and community awareness. The NDC outlines needs for institutional strengthening, human-resource development, scientific research, technological innovation, and financial mobilization for adaptation, alongside deeper international cooperation.

The adaptation component will include a comprehensive assessment of climate-related loss and damage in Viet Nam. Key impacts include sea-level rise, salinization, drought, heavy rainfall causing flooding in both urban and rural areas, storms, large waves, tidal surges, landslides, flash floods, and coastal erosion. The NDC also presents projections of economic losses by 2050 across agriculture, fisheries, energy, industry, trade, infrastructure, and household income. Under a 1.5°C warming scenario, Viet Nam’s GDP could decline by 4.5%, rising to 6.7% under a 2°C scenario. Without adaptation measures, annual economic losses could reach 12-14.5% of GDP by 2050.

 According to the Department of Climate Change, the NDC is developed using official datasets, best practices, and reputable scientific studies. Because the NDC represents Viet Nam’s highest national effort and carries international obligations, it includes only commitments that are technically, financially, and institutionally feasible.

Under the 2022 updated NDC, Viet Nam committed to reducing emissions by 15.8% using domestic resources and up to 43.5% with international support by 2030, compared to the business-as-usual scenario. These reductions correspond to 146.3 million and 403.7 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, respectively.

*Currency exchange: USD 1 = VND 26.386 - Source: Vietcombank, November 18, 2025.