Ms. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, French Minister of State for Development and International Partnership; Mr. Trân Hông Hà, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Vietnam (MONRE); and Mr. Rémy Rioux, General Director of the Agence française de développement (AFD)

On the occasion of COP27 and in the presence of the French Minister of State for Development and International Partnership Ms. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, Mr. Trân Hông Hà, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Vietnam (MONRE), and Mr. Rémy Rioux, General Director of the Agence française de développement (AFD) signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the bilateral cooperation on the implementation of the reduction of carbon emission and energy transition in Vietnam. Mr Rioux handed over to Minister Hà the two final reports on climate change impacts and adaptation based on the final results of AFD’s GEMMES Viet Nam research project.

Being one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change, hazards and natural disasters with significant economic and social consequences (GEMMES Vietnam Report – COP 26 in 2021), Vietnam has made at COP 26 an ambitious commitment towards “net-zero emissions” by 2050. The choice of a sustainable and low-carbon development must contribute to both the mitigation of the climate crisis and the acceleration of the country’s green economic transition.

“An economic development model with low carbon emission and circular economy are of prevailing tendency of the world. Vietnam joins its efforts with the international community in order to achieve common climate goal. International cooperation is one of our main pillars of action for the implementation of our national climate change strategy and our commitments to net-zero. The signature of the MOU contributes to the quality of Vietnam-French strategic partnership, and assert the efficiency of the long-term cooperation between MONRE and AFD” said Mr. Hà. This memorandum of understanding will support the implementation of low carbon and just energy transitions through different researches, studies and pear-to-pear exchanges.

According to Ms. Zacharopoulou, “France is fully commited to support all countries in their climate action and green transition. Through this agreement, we will share our climate expertise and models to inform and guide Vietnam’s transition. This ambitious partnership shows our common commitment to the fight against climate change in Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and all over the world”.

These activities will be financed by different budgets mobilized by AFD, such as Facility 2050 and EU-funded WARM Facility (Water and Natural Resources Management Facility).

Complementary to this memorandum, the two new reports based on the final results of AFD’s GEMMES Viet Nam research project, entitled “National Climate Change Impact and Adaptation – Final Report” and “The Mekong Delta Emergency – Climate and Environmental Adaptation Strategies to 2050” have been officially delivered to MONRE Minister. These reports, developed by French and Vietnamese researchers in close collaboration with IRD (Research Institute for development) and the Department of Climate Change of MONRE, build a strong scientific case for mainstreaming adaptation into development strategies and contribute to the public policy dialogue with the Vietnamese government, which has placed adaptation at the heart of its strategy

“With the submission and publication of these reports, France and AFD Group reiterate their pledge to work with the Vietnamese government to strengthen its climate change adaptation policies. Not only do these reports carry useful and practical information for future policy planning and just transition, they also illustrate the quality of our Franco-Vietnamese partnership” said Mr. Rioux in conclusion of the ceremony.