HANOI: There is a huge potential for Vietnam and the UK to enhance cooperation in clean energy, as both countries have set ambitious goals for carbon neutrality moving towards a sustainable future, say experts.

At the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan from Nov 11 to 22, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new climate target: to reduce the country’s emissions by 81% against 1990 levels by 2035, an update from the previous Conservative government’s 78% goal.

The UK’s Labour party came to power over the summer with a bold agenda to cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030 to help make Britain a clean energy superpower.

To achieve this mission, the UK aims to quadruple offshore wind to a target of 55GW by 2030 and more than triple solar power to 50GW. It also aims to at least double its onshore wind capacity to 35GW, build new nuclear projects and invest in carbon capture and storage.

According to the UK National Energy System Operator (Neso), clean power is a huge challenge, but it is achievable for the UK by 2030. “It will involve an investment programme averaging £40bil or more annually, which, with the right policy mix, can be delivered without increasing costs for consumers, without compromising security of supply, and while bringing local economic and job opportunities,” Neso’s report stated.

As for Vietnam, at COP26 in 2021 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced the country’s commitments to phase out coal power generation and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Although this is considered an ambitious goal for Vietnam, the country is actively leading the decarbonisation effort in the Asia-Pacific region, with an impressive deployment of renewable energy in recent years.

Vietnam included the net-zero target in its National Climate Change Strategy, which was approved in July 2022.

The country also issued the National Strategy on Green Growth for the 2021-2030 period in October 2021 and a national action plan in July 2022. 

 - ANN