Vietnamese and German environmental experts gathered in Hanoi on November 21 at a seminar to discuss Vietnam’s opportunities and challenges faced in its move to join the global carbon market.

Nguyen Van Tai, Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, said participating in projects of Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) benefits Vietnam and other developing countries financially and technologically.

In preparation for deeper global carbon market penetration, Vietnam will focus its post-2020 strategy on building emission reduction projects for the voluntary carbon market, an action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the National Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) and enhancing the capacity of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV).

The action plan will include an assessment of the country’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, building and concluding policies for carbon credit businesses and investment projects in Vietnam .

Domestic and international experience in the two-pronged - economy and low-level carbon - development strategy has shown benefits, said representatives of Hanns Seidel Foundation.

Close coordination between the state and private sectors is required, said representatives. Investment should be fuelled by realising initiatives, multiplying successful projects, offering business solutions and finally generating more “green” jobs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a sustainable way, they added.

The carbon market is an important tool to slash greenhouse gas emissions. It also offers huge economic benefits to participating countries.-VNA