At the conference (Photo: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam can succeed in realising its green growth and climate change response strategy, if it makes a strong shift from thermal power to renewable energy, insiders said at a workshop in Hanoi on March 24.
Le Duc Chung, a member of a project by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, on strengthening capacity and institutional reform for green growth and sustainable development in Vietnam, said the energy sector is a special challenge to green growth since generating energy causes pollution and emits greenhouse gases.
Fossil fuels will continue to be the main energy generator for the foreseeable future, since they are more dependable when taking into account the development of corresponding infrastructure and technology.
New energy sources need to be developed at the same pace of an industrial revolution, he said, warning that if drastic action is not taken, energy-related CO2 emissions will double by 2050.
According to the Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA), 94.1 percent of people surveyed said they want renewable energy to be used in their residential areas.
Meanwhile, policies on developing sources of electricity should pay heed to tapping into the potential of hydropower while discouraging fossil fuel demand, said Deputy Director of the Institute of Energy Nguyen Anh Tuan.
He suggested reducing the capacity and number of coal-fired plants, along with applying advanced technology at existing thermal power factories to improve their fuel efficiency and cut down emissions.
At the workshop, participants also discussed other issues pertaining to climate change and green growth.
The function was held by the Centre for Development of Community Initiative and Environment, and the VSEA’s Green Innovation and Development Centre.-VNA
