UK will further support Vietnam in green development: British Ambassador

01/11/2021, 10:31

The United Nations-Climate Change Conference COP26 (the 26th Conference of the Parties) is taking place in Glasgow, the United Kingdom, between October 31 and November 12. The UK will be assuming the COP26 Presidency, in partnership with Italy.

British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward. (Courtesy photo of the embassy)

The British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward talks to Viet Nam News, an English-language newspaper run by the Vietnam News Agency, about expectations on the conference and how Vietnam can play a part in the cause to reduce climate change impacts.

What does the UK’s government expect from the event?

Well, 140 world leaders are participating in COP26 - the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. The main objective is to keep 1.5 degrees alive, which means to stop the world from heating 1.5 degrees more than the pre-industrial level. In order to do that, there are four key issues we need to resolve.

The first is about mitigation - that is, reducing the number of emissions that countries produce carbon and carbon dioxide and secondly, we need to support countries to adapt because the world is already heated up more than 1 degree, perhaps 1.2 degrees, and we can see the impact of that in many countries around the world, including Vietnam, whether is through rising sea levels or severe weather incidents.

And the third area we want to work together is finance because developed countries recognise historically, we have produced most of the carbon emissions in the environment, so we should fund developing countries to help you transition more quickly.

And finally, it’s a negotiation on a treaty, so there are a lot of details of works to be done so that everyone can sign up the new measures so that we can have transparency and collaboration between countries and that we are all working in the same direction.

Could you tell me your opinion on the reduction of coal use in Vietnam?

Vietnam has a fast growing economy, and will need more electricity in the future. The question is what sources will that come from?

Within the past five years, Vietnam has gone from being a net coal exporter to a net importer and coal is currently a leading source for power generation in Vietnam.

Unfortunately burning coal is very bad for greenhouse gas emissions and for air pollution. Many countries have committed to moving away from coal – for instance in the UK coal provided less than 2 percent of the energy mix by July this year.

Countries including Japan, the Republic of Korea and China have decided to stop providing financing for new coal power stations. 

At COP26, the United Nations global climate summit to be held in Glasgow in November, all countries are being asked to commit to ‘no new coal power'.

Illustrative image. (Photo: congthuong.vn)

Climate change is not just theoretical. In Vietnam we can already see the impact of global warming which has reached around 1.2 degrees more than pre-industrial levels, for example, salination in the Mekong, flooding in major cities, and extreme weather events, all of which impact Vietnam heavily.

The biggest contribution Vietnam can make to the global effort to stop global warming is to move away from the old technology of importing and burning coal. Vietnam can meet its energy needs through new technology and using its own clean resources. Vietnam has huge potential in solar and wind power. International investors from the private sector will build this renewable capacity quickly if the right conditions are set.

To enable this, Vietnam needs new grid infrastructure to increase its capacity to transmit electricity to where it’s needed. The international community wants to provide overseas development assistance to help Vietnam upgrade its grid, and Vietnam can become a leader in renewables.

The energy transition should be a priority for Vietnam in the years ahead. It brings huge opportunities to create new jobs, and to attract new investment as supply chains shift and the global economy recovers. Moving away from coal towards renewable energy development is not only cost effective, but also offer tremendous potential to stimulate the wider economy. There are also major risks in continuing to build new coal, starting with air pollution and health. Dependency on imported coal, the risk of losing new investment and exposure to future carbon taxes are good reasons for the shift to a green economy.

What has your government done or will do to support Vietnam in the process?

The UK has been supporting Vietnam on energy transition and increasing access to finance for green projects. Together with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and many other development partners, the UK is leading COP26 Energy Transition Council with technical and financial support for energy transition acceleration to 15 countries including Vietnam towards 2025.

We look forward to seeing continuous engagement with Vietnam and assure our highest engagement to this important agenda.

Investors from the UK are showing significant interest in investing in renewable energy projects in Vietnam, in both solar and wind power. They need the Government of Vietnam to introduce long-term support policies as well as simplification of procedures for project implementation./.

VNA


Related articles

(0) Comments
Focus
Unbelievable Victory
BTO - The 2025 UEFA Champions League final featured a clash between France's Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Italy's Inter Milan. It was the first time the two sides had ever met in an official Champions League fixture. What unfolded was an enthralling match, albeit a one-sided one. PSG pulled off a *stunning* 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in what many are calling an "unbelievable" triumph.
Do not miss
  • FA Cup Miracle: Crystal Palace Stun Man City at Wembley
    18 yesterday Sports
    BTO-On the morning of May 18, 2025, the most anticipated clash of the English football weekend unfolded at Wembley: the FA Cup Final — the oldest football competition in the world — between Crystal Palace and Manchester City. Despite...
  • The Return of a Legend
    28 yesterday Sports
    BTO-More than ten years since his departure, Xabi Alonso is set to return to the Santiago Bernabéu—this time as the head coach of the Royal Club. A former standout in Real Madrid’s illustrious history, Alonso now has the opportunity...
  • Vesak 2025 Grand Celebration: Spreading the Noble Values of Buddhism
    28 yesterday Culture
    As summer returns and lotuses bloom under the full moon of the fourth lunar month, Buddhists around the world joyfully celebrate the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama. In Bình Thuận and across Vietnam, temples, monasteries, and lay...
  • When the Guns Went Silent: Arsenal Stumbles vs. PSG
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Arsenal and PSG, both chasing their first-ever Champions League title, were set for a historic breakthrough this season. But Arsenal’s hopes took a major hit with a 0-1 home loss to PSG in the first leg of the semifinals, leaving...
  • "El Pulga" Alone Can’t Secure Glory
    one month ago Sports
    Lionel Messi is currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). With his exceptional talent, "El Pulga" has played a vital role in turning the young club into a rising power. However, Messi alone cannot carry an Inter...
  • Falling at the "Gates of Heaven
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Carlos Alcaraz displayed remarkable form and composure throughout the 2025 Barcelona Open. The Spanish star made his way to the final without dropping a single set. However, at the final hurdle, the "Mini Nadal" stumbled at the...
  • Colorful Áo Dài and Folk Dance Showcase Marks 50 Years of Liberation
    one month ago Culture
    BTO – On the morning of April 26, the Bình Thuận Provincial Women's Union organized a mass Áo Dài and folk dance performance at Nguyễn Tất Thành Square in Phan Thiết City, featuring the participation of 600 female officials, members,...
  • Farewell to the “Bavarian Giants”
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-After a courageous 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Inter Milan returned home to host Bayern Munich in the second leg. Though a one-goal lead was far from secure, the Italian side left no room...
  • No Miracle at Signal Iduna Park
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Barcelona has a reputation for collapsing under pressure, having twice squandered significant first-leg advantages in the Champions League knockout stages. That gave Dortmund hope for a dramatic comeback at Signal Iduna Park in...
  • Phan Thiết – The 50-Year Journey: From Liberation to a Dynamic, Modern Coastal City
    one month ago Business
    April 19, 1975 – April 19, 2025: A proud 50-year milestone since the liberation of Phan Thiết. Half a century may not be long in the grand flow of history, but for Phan Thiết—a land once scarred by war—it marks a powerful transformation....
  • Red Devils Hold Off Blue Tide in Manchester Derby Stalemate
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-On the night of April 6, a classic Manchester derby unfolded at Old Trafford in Matchweek 31 of the Premier League, where Manchester United and Manchester City clashed in a high-stakes encounter. Despite having little left to fight...
  • Nou Camp Nightmare: Dortmund Swept Aside by Ruthless Barca
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Barcelona put on a dominant display in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg, thrashing Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in a one-sided encounter at the Nou Camp. The Catalan giants delighted their home crowd with a goal-fest, featuring...
  • Liverpool Bounces Back with Vital Victory Over Everton, Keeping Arsenal at Bay
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-After consecutive failures in the FA Cup, Champions League, and League Cup, the morale of Arne Slot's squad has been declining. Facing pressure following Arsenal's victory in the early match the day before, Liverpool was compelled...
  • The Beauty of Hòn Cau Island
    2 month ago LANDSCAPES
    March signals the perfect time for a visit to Hòn Cau Island (Phước Thể, Tuy Phong) as the weather transitions and the golden sunlight bathes the island. Located about 110 km from Phan Thiết, Cù Lao Câu is a pristine, uninhabited island...
  • The Final Goal
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-Manchester City now only has one goal left: winning the FA Cup to salvage what has been a “disastrous” season. As a result, Coach Pep Guardiola and his players have put all their energy into the world’s oldest football tournament....
  • Regaining the Top Spot
    2 month ago Sports
    Playing a day before their arch-rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid took full advantage of the opportunity to reclaim the top spot in La Liga with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Villarreal, thanks to a brace from Mbappe.
  • A Hard-Fought Victory
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-On the evening of March 19, the Vietnam national team played their first international match since winning the AFF Cup 2024, hosting Cambodia in a friendly at Gò Đậu Stadium (Bình Dương). Given their superior standing, a victory...
  • Farewell to the "King of Cups"
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-After suffering a 1-0 home defeat in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, the French football powerhouse PSG was under immense pressure to win the return leg away at Liverpool. And they did just that, securing a place...
  • Surrendering the Title
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO- The highlight of Premier League Matchweek 28 was the showdown between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford. Arsenal desperately needed a victory to keep up with Liverpool, but they could only manage a draw, while the league...
  • Even Djokovic Can’t Defy Time
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-Novak Djokovic has just suffered a defeat against Botic Van De Zandschulp in the second round of  Indian Wells 2025, marking the first time in seven years that he has lost three consecutive matches. At 37 years old, Djokovic is...
POWERED BY ONECMS - A PRODUCT OF NEKO
UK will further support Vietnam in green development: British Ambassador