Viet Nam strengthens climate security foundation after 10 years of Paris Agreement

Viet Nam remains steadfast in Net Zero

On 11 December, the French Embassy in Viet Nam held a press conference marking the 10th anniversary of the UN Climate Change Conference COP21 and the rollout of the Paris Agreement.

A decade after joining the negotiations, formulation and adoption of the Agreement, Viet Nam has consistently acted as a responsible country in implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change. Ministries and sectors have established a coherent legal framework and issued national strategies on greenhouse gas reduction, climate change, green growth and national power development planning.

Viet Nam’s 2022 NDC significantly increases emission-reduction commitments compared with 2020, with both the unconditional and international-supported contributions rising relative to the 2030 business-as-usual scenario. To date, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been actively working to finalise NDC 3.0, together with proposals on more comprehensive measures, monitoring and reporting methodologies.

Viet Nam is among the first countries to adopt the Political Declaration establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). As of early December 2025, 44 JETP-aligned projects have been identified, requiring more than 10 billion USD in mobilised capital.

Looking back at Viet Nam’s efforts to respond to climate change a decade after COP21, Tang The Cuong, Director General of the DCC, said the country has achieved important results in implementing the Paris Agreement, gradually joining the global arena on greenhouse gas reduction and carbon markets, and strengthening the competitiveness of its economy.

He affirmed that Viet Nam has shifted from passive response to proactive action and remains firmly committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

EU Ambassador to Viet Nam Julien Guerrier recalled the COP21 negotiations in Paris, which France had driven with dedication and skill ten years ago. In 2015, he said, the world mapped out a new pathway. Today, the commitments remain valid and the global challenges persist, which is why France, the EU, Viet Nam and Brazil are all committed to achieving net zero emissions.

French Ambassador to Viet Nam Olivier Brochet noted that the Paris Agreement is proving effective. In 2015, the planet was on a trajectory toward 4°C of warming. After COP30, projections have fallen to 2.3 - 2.5°C. Though still above the Paris target of 1.5°C, the trend shows that the world is moving closer to controlling global temperature rise.

He added that the world is undergoing a transition toward low-carbon development models.

The Paris Agreement continues to demonstrate its effectiveness thanks to its fairness and its avoidance of setting industrialised countries against developing ones. For Viet Nam, it is not merely a diplomatic exercise but a blueprint for security, health and resilience.

According to Pauline Tamesis, Viet Nam needs to access financing from the Green Climate Fund, the Loss and Damage Fund and bilateral mechanisms. The United Nations stands ready to support Viet Nam in developing a pipeline of projects to attract JETP funding and other global climate finance.

The obligation to strengthen global partnerships

Following COP21, countries around the world have deepened cooperation based on strong friendship and shared values, particularly through COP26 and, more recently, COP30 in Brazil.

Brazil’s Ambassador to Viet Nam Marco Farani noted that as COP30 concludes, countries must now build the financial foundations for energy transition, adaptation and climate mitigation.

COP30 took place at a challenging time, when major economies still harbour doubts about the climate agenda, are not yet ready to fully implement the SDGs, and have not formed a united front toward global emission reduction.

Brazil’s Ambassador said that although climate policies differ between the Global North and the Global South, what he wished to emphasise is that northern countries are taking action and working alongside developing nations to ensure climate security.

France and Brazil share a strong partnership in combating climate change, not only for the benefit of both countries but for the future of the entire world. The French Ambassador recommended that countries continue to invest public and private finance in technological innovation and climate- and environment-friendly solutions.

Pauline Tamesis called for action, saying that the Paris Agreement is an insurance policy for the world’s survival. France provided the framework, Brazil created the momentum, and Viet Nam is demonstrating determination. She urged that COP30 Belém must become a turning point for action.