Report on youth action for climate change in Vietnam launched
Hanoi (VNA) – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in
collaboration with the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), launched a special report entitled
“Youth for Climate Action in Vietnam 2022” on November 1.
This year's
report was co-written by 24 young authors from all over the country. It
contained four key themes including youth in climate policy and decision-making
processes, accelerating the transition towards a circular economy, climate
mitigation towards net zero, and climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
The authors
documented and tracked more than 130 youth-led climate initiatives and projects
that were outstanding good practices of meaningful climate action. They also
identified several priority accelerators moving forward, including the establishment
of a youth climate policy working group, education and capacity-building
programmes on climate change, and financial and technical support for youth-led
projects.
According to the special report, youth face two key obstacles: financial
limitations and lack of technical knowledge and skills. It also
recommends accelerators, such as developing a climate financing hub for youth,
promoting the role of youth in climate governance and diplomacy, and creating a
set of specialised publications for youth.
At the
event, the youth also presented their youth statement in which they called on
the Government to prioritise investment in renewable power plants; establish
the roadmap to phase out fossil fuel by 2030; restrict financial institutions
from investing in high emission projects; and minimise the use of single-use
plastic products with an aim to eliminate these products completely by 2030.
They
suggested local governments and stakeholders to engage youth in organising
communication and awareness raising campaigns on climate change, promotions
of green lifestyles and climate
resilient action. Priority should be given to the establishment a
working group on youth and climate policy to represent youth voices at national
and international policy forums, they added.
In her
remarks at the event, Ramla Al Khalidi, United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP)
Resident Representative in Vietnam, said that UNDP calls on all development
partners to join hands to facilitate and advance an environment in
which youth can rise to fully occupy their roles as agents of change.
“We pledge
to support the Vietnamese youth, to ensure their concerns and ideas are heard,
and to continue working with the youth to leverage their creativity to boost
climate action,” she said.
“It is not
only our interest but also our obligation to ensure that the youth and future
generations will be able to live in a just, green, and resilient future.”
According to
Tang The Cuong, Director General of the Department of Climate Change, the launch of the special report,
which takes place before the 27th
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), is of great importance, contributing to the
voice of Vietnamese youth in response to global climate.
“We hope
agencies and organisations create more conditions for the Vietnamese youth to
participate and contribute to the nation's efforts to respond to climate change in order to accelerate the achievement of the net zero emissions target by 2050,” he
said./.