The UN Development Programme (UNDP), working in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), launched a special report on November 1 entitled “Youth for Climate Action in Vietnam 2022”.
This year's report was co-written by 24 young authors from all over the country. The document contained four key themes, including youth in the climate policy and decision-making processes, with aims to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy, climate mitigation towards net zero, and achieving climate change adaptation, reducing the risk of disasters in the process.
The authors documented and tracked over 130 youth-led climate initiatives and projects that can be considered outstanding practices in terms 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, as well as both financial and technical support for youth-led projects.
According to details outlined in the special report, young people face two key obstacles, including financial limitations and a general lack of technical knowledge and skills. It also recommends implementing accelerators, such as developing a climate financing hub for young people, promoting the role of youth in climate governance and diplomacy, as well as creating a set of specialised publications for youths.
At the event a youth statement was presented in which they called on the Government to prioritise investment in renewable power plants. This is along with the establishment of a roadmap to phase out fossil fuel by 2030, restrict financial institutions from investing in high emission projects, and minimising the use of single-use plastic products with the aim of eliminating these products completely by 2030.
They therefore suggested that local governments and stakeholders thoroughly engage young people to organise communication and awareness raising campaigns on climate change, promotions of green lifestyles, and climate resilient actions. Priority should be given to the establishment a working group on youth and climate policy in order to represent youth voices at national and international policy forums, they added.
In her remarks, Ramla Al Khalidi, resident representative in Vietnam of the UN’s Development Programme (UNDP), said that the UNDP calls on all development partners to unite to facilitate and advance an environment in which young people 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,” she concluded.
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 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), is of great importance as it will contribute to the voice of Vietnamese youth in response to global climate.
“We hope agencies and organizations 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 added.