Viet Nam poised to reduce 3 million tons of CO2 through blue carbon initiatives

This information was announced by Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Department of Climate Change (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) and Head of Viet Nam’s technical delegation, during the side event at COP30 titled “Harmonizing Policies and Funding for Blue Carbon Solutions” on November 17. The event brought together representatives from government agencies, investors, and businesses to connect national actions with financial solutions, enhance livelihoods, and expand the practical impact on coastal ecosystems.

Rich potential

Blue carbon ecosystems, which include mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coastal salt marshes, play a critical role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, preserving biodiversity, and enhancing the resilience of coastal communities against the impacts of climate change. At the COP28 Conference two years prior, Indonesia and the Philippines joined the Blue Carbon Action Partnership (BCAP), launched by the World Economic Forum with support from the Blue Planet Fund (UK), to develop national blue carbon roadmaps.

Viet Nam, with its coastline stretching over 3,200 kilometers from north to south, currently possesses approximately 200,000 hectares of mangrove forests, offering significant blue carbon potential. In addition to their carbon storage capacity, these coastal ecosystems boast high biodiversity and provide essential protection against storms, reducing property damage and preventing coastal erosion.

Deputy Director General Le Ngoc Tuan stated that, recognizing the crucial role of blue carbon systems, Viet Nam has cooperated with international organizations to assess this potential. However, to date, cooperation has yielded only preliminary calculations of mangrove potential, while further studies and inventory work on salt marshes and seagrass remain to be carried out.

According to initial calculations, blue carbon will contribute about 3 million tons of CO2 toward Viet Nam’s upcoming emission reduction target under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by 2035. Consequently, blue carbon projects are attracting increasing interest from the community and the private sector.

Nevertheless, blue carbon systems in Viet Nam also face numerous challenges due to increasing economic development activities and the impacts of climate change, particularly climate-related natural disasters such as storms. In light of this, the Government of Viet Nam consistently prioritizes the protection and restoration of blue carbon systems through national regulations, policies, and financial incentives for local communities and the private sector to invest in expanding the area of these ecosystems.

Viet Nam to build national blue carbon roadmap

Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan announced that the priority placed on protecting and restoring blue carbon systems is demonstrated through national regulations, policies, and financial incentives for local communities and the private sector to invest in expanding these systems. In this effort, Viet Nam has collaborated with the World Economic Forum to establish the National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP Viet Nam). This multi-stakeholder platform will coordinate national efforts and connect with the Global Blue Carbon Action Partnership.

NBCAP Viet Nam will establish a coordinating platform to develop blue carbon systems further, contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and the improvement of local community livelihoods. Built on this platform, Viet Nam will develop a national blue carbon database, an emissions-reduction roadmap for blue carbon, and a financial roadmap, with participation from policymakers, investors, and other relevant stakeholders.

Through NBCAP Viet Nam, pilot projects will be developed and implemented, mobilizing more financial resources for blue carbon, enhancing blue carbon capacity, and coordinating local blue carbon actions with global initiatives.

"Viet Nam is committed to promoting regional and international cooperation on blue carbon to advance joint actions in this field. We welcome all relevant parties, including international partners and investors, to join NBCAP Viet Nam to realize a shared vision and action for blue carbon," Mr. Tuan emphasized. He added that Viet Nam is also ready to work closely with other ASEAN countries to protect coastlines, support local people, and contribute to achieving global climate goals.

COP30, hosted in Belém, Brazil, marks a critical phase in global climate governance as countries approach the 2030 deadline for meeting the Paris Agreement targets. One of the most closely watched issues at this year’s conference is the progress on carbon markets and the implementation of Article 6 - the section of the Paris Agreement that governs international cooperation through carbon-credit trading.