On June 30th, 2023, Foreign Trade University organized a national scientific conference “Towards net-zero emissions for sustainable development in Vietnam,” in collaboration with the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment and the Vietnam Institute of Economics. The conference aims to exchange research results and implementation practices and propose solutions to promote actions towards reducing net emissions to “0” by 2050 as Vietnam’s commitment at the COP26 Climate Conference (Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom) in November 2021.
The conference included representatives from ministries, committees and institutes such as Dr. Ta Dinh Thi – Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Tuan – Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics; Mr. Dao Trung Kien – Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Journal of Government Inspectorate; Dr. Pham Anh Tuan – Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics. From the Foreign Trade University, the conference had the participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan – Secretary of the Party Committee, President of the Foreign Trade University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairwoman of University Council of Foreign Trade University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Ngoc Tien, Vice President of Foreign Trade University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Xuan Binh, Dean of Faculty of International Economics, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Hoang Nam – Head of Science Management Department. In addition, the conference received attention and participation from a large number of leaders of units, researchers, scholars, speakers from the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, Vietnam Institute of Economics and Foreign Trade University; representatives from businesses such as FPT; and academic staff, Ph.D. candidates, students of the Foreign Trade University as well as other universities and research institutes.
In the opening speech of the Conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Foreign Trade University, affirmed, “With the development strategy to become an innovative university that can contribute to the sustainable development of Vietnam, Foreign Trade University has focused on building and developing training programs, research programs, consulting, and community service related to green and circular economy, as well as climate change adaptation. Many new courses such as “Global Climate Change Management,” “Environmental and Climate Change Economics,” “Climate Change Economics” have been integrated into training programs.” Among 04 current research orientations, Foreign Trade University has identified 02 directly related directions: “Economic Institutional and Social Innovation for Sustainable Development” and “Green Economy and Social Responsibility.” These two orientations have implemented numerous research programs directly linked to emission, energy management, environmental protection, and green economics issues. Besides, the University has carried out various activities to enhance awareness, provide consultation, transfer knowledge, models, tools, and solutions to localities, organizations, businesses, and communities regarding green growth, green productivity, efficient energy use, and environmental protection…
In his speech at the Conference, Dr. Ta Dinh Thi – Vice Chairman of National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, expressed his hope that the conference would contribute to mobilizing a wide range of ideas from research and training institutions to facilitate discussions and proposals for suitable solutions and policies to support the implementation of the National Strategy for reducing CO2 emissions and adapting to climate change. Dr. Ta Dinh Thi also praised the quality of the presentations at the conference, particularly those from Foreign Trade University. Sharing the same viewpoint, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, also highly praised this scientific conference for its ability to capture the attention of the scientific community and young leaders, raising awareness and serving as motivation for the development of a green economy.
The conference was divided into two parts: the presentation session featuring high-quality presentations by leading experts in the fields of environment and climate change, and the policy dialogue session among experts and invited speakers.
In the policy dialogue session, which Assoc Prof. Dr. Hoang Xuan Binh coordinated., Dean of Faculty of International Economics, speakers including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Foreign Trade University; Dr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Tuan, Director of Vietnam Institute of Economics, received numerous questions focused on policy issues, environmental regulations, models that Vietnam is pursuing as well as efforts to enhance awareness and policies encouraging scientific Research and training, design of courses on green economics, global economics, and climate change economics in the University’s training programs. In response to questions from representatives of businesses such as FPT regarding what enterprises need to do to achieve a net-zero emissions strategy, the speakers pointed out the importance of changing the mindset of all staff as well as adopting technological advancements and implementing digital transformation. In general, the speakers participating in the policy dialogue session emphasized the importance of proposing suitable solutions and policies to contribute to the implementation of the National Strategy for reducing CO2 emissions and adapting to climate change, implementing digital transformation, applying technologies from renewable energy, solar energy, etc…. Specifically, Dr. Ta Dinh Thi and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Tuan highly appreciated the role of training institutions such as Foreign Trade University in developing research programs, training, and consulting services related to green and circular economy for raising awareness among businesses and the general population in the context of complex climate change.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Ngoc Tien, Vice President of Foreign Trade University, chaired the presentation session featuring high-quality presentations by Dr. Ly Hoang Phu, Faculty of International Economics at Foreign Trade University; Dr. Ha Huy Ngoc – Regional Economics Department at the Vietnam Institute of Economics; and Mr. Nguyen Thi, Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. During the presentation session, various topics were discussed and debated, such as the Research on the impact of tourism on CO2 emissions in ASEAN. Mobilizing resources for green growth: International experience and lessons for Vietnam; circular economy and Regulations promoting circular economic development in environmental protection laws. Some solutions suggested by the speakers for Vietnam to build and develop towards the goal of achieving net-zero emissions include minimizing fossil fuel consumption, transitioning to sustainable fuels, and promoting eco-tourism; improving regulations to support the circular economy and extended producer responsibility (EPR) aiming at carbon neutrality; formulating policies to mobilize resources for green growth, enhancing the legal framework for green bonds, green credit, green banking, and green insurance.
The presentations from the speakers provided valuable perspectives and comments for the attendees, offering multifaceted insights into environmental and climate-related issues. The speakers also received significant interest from the participants regarding green finance development solutions, measures to enhance awareness among businesses and households regarding environmental protection, promoting a circular economy, and reducing CO2 emissions. The speakers underscored the crucial role of legal regulations and the importance of raising awareness among businesses and the public.
In his closing remarks at the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Foreign Trade University, affirmed the importance of measures to drive actions towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and raising awareness among businesses and the public about environmental protection and climate change. Foreign Trade University will also continue to enhance scientific Research and incorporate courses related to the environment and climate change into its training programs.
At the end of the conference, the organizers received numerous positive feedback on both the content and the organization format, as well as the effectiveness it brought about, particularly the strong engagement and information exchange among the delegates, guests, and speakers from policy-making agencies, universities, research institutes, businesses, and organizations, both domestically and internationally.
Some photos from the conference:
Delegates, esteemed guests, speakers, scholars, academic staff and students
attending the conference
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Foreign Trade University delivered the opening speech at the conference
Dr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment presented at the conference
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Tuan, Director of Vietnam Institute of Economics, delivered a speech at the conference
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairwoman of the University Council of Foreign Trade University, presented commemorative gifts to representatives of the co-organizing units of the conference
The organizing committee presented gifts to the guest speakers participating in the conference
Policy Dialogue session was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Xuan Binh, Dean of Faculty of International Economics, with the participation of the following speakers: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Foreign Trade University; Dr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Tuan, Director of Vietnam Institute of Economics
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Foreign Trade University, engaged in the Policy Dialogue session
Dr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology and Environment participated in the Policy Dialogue session
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Tuan, Director of Vietnam Institute of Economics, participated in the Policy Dialogue session
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Xuan Binh, Dean of Faculty of International Economics at Foreign Trade University, coordinated the Policy Dialogue session
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Ngoc Tien, Vice President of Foreign Trade University, chaired the presentation session featuring high-quality presentations by Dr. Ly Hoang Phu, Faculty of International Economics at Foreign Trade University; Dr. Ha Huy Ngoc – Regional Economics Department at the Vietnam Institute of Economics; and Mr. Nguyen Thi – Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Ngoc Tien, Vice President of Foreign Trade University, chaired the presentation session
The first presentation: “Circular Economy and Regulations Promoting Circular Economy in Environmental Protection Laws,” by Mr. Nguyen Thi – Legal Affairs Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The research provided an overview of Circular Economy (CE) theory as well as an introduction to some policies and laws promoting CE in Vietnam. On that basis, the author analyzed the extended producer responsibility within the framework of CE and conducted an in-depth examination of regulations supporting CE and the extended producer responsibility aimed at carbon neutrality
The second presentation by Dr. Ly Hoang Phu – Head of the Department of Economic Development, Faculty of International Economics, Foreign Trade University was on ” Impacts of Tourism on CO2 Emissions in ASEAN Countries.” This is a quantitative research study on the influence of tourism on CO2 emissions in Southeast Asian countries. Based on empirical evidence of the rapid growth of tourism in ASEAN countries in recent years and the relationships among various factors affecting CO2 emissions, including tourism, the study reveals that tourism (measured by international tourism revenue) has a positive impact on CO2 emissions. Based on these findings, the authors propose several solutions aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and reducing CO2 emissions in the future
The third presentation by Dr. Ha Huy Ngoc – Deputy Head of the Regional Economics Department at the Vietnam Institute of Economics, was on “Mobilizing Resources for Green Growth: International Trends and Lessons for Vietnam.” The research analyzes the trends in resource mobilization and investment for green growth, as well as green recovery, following the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. Subsequently, the author examines the mobilization of resources for green growth in Vietnam. Lastly, the author delves into the analysis of the Vietnamese government’s commitment to achieving “net-zero” emissions at the COP26 conference, using it as a foundation for proposing recommendations and solutions
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Quang Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Economics, posed questions to the speakers
Ms. Pham Thi Quynh Vi, Quality Director of FPT Corporation, posed questions to the speakers
Participant posed questions to the speakers
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Anh Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Foreign Trade University, concluded the National Conference
