10/10/2016
In its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) report, Việt Nam commits that by 2030, it will have reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by 8%. To this end, Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has implemented a large number of projects on energy saving to finite CO2 emission. Among these is the Project of Improving and Developing 2050 Calculator for Vietnam’s provinces for policymaking in energy field and GHG emission management (the 2050 Calculator Project). Environment Magazine had an interview with Mr. Hoàng Văn Tâm - Deputy Director of the 2050 Calculator Project on contribution to environmental protection.
Workshop on launching Updated Version of Viet Nam 2050 Calculator on March 3rd, 2016 in Hà Nội |
Can you please have some introduction on the 2050 Calculator Project of Việt Nam?
Mr. Hoàng Văn Tâm: The 2050 Calculator is developed by the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to reduce GHG and mitigate climate change impacts. So far, this instrument has been transferred to 16 countries including Japan, India, China, Korea, Thailand and Indonesia. In 2014, with support from DECC, MOIT has received the transfer and developed a Vietnamese version of the 2050 Calculator Pathways which is modified from DECC’s original version. The Vietnam 2050 Calculator is a web based instrument which estimates Vietnamese energy demand and supply with different energy development and GHG emission reduction scenarios by 2050. Data are collected and selected to meet with requirements of the original version and tailored to suit the local context. Based on it, the most possible scenarios for the future are forecasted to provide input for relevant policymaking to reduce emission, improve air quality, limit energy import and contribute to sustainable development.
In 2015, through the Commonwealth Fund, the UK’s Department of Foreign Affairs assisted MOIT in implementing the 2050 Calculator for provinces to help developing policies and action plans on CO2 reduction in compliance with national policies and objectives. An updated version has been introduced to Ministries, sectors, localities, enterprises, non-governmental organizations, research institutions and universities.
Would you please let us know who are the main beneficiaries of the Vietnam 2050 Calculator Project and its advantages in energy and environment sectors?
Mr. Hoàng Văn Tâm: The 2050 Calculator is written in Vietnamese which is convenient for local users to search, study and use information on energy scenarios, linkages between the scenarios and GHG emission. So far, the instrument has been updated to reflect the most recent policies on energy and specific data on energy consumption in industrial sectors, households and commercial sectors. The instrument covers all types of energy (oil, gas, biomass and electricity) and emission activities (fossil fuel burning and industrial production). In the meantime, it estimates costs of different scenarios and provide associated assumptions and GHG emission reduction measures.
The development of such scientific, transparent and helpful instrument has assisted policymakers to come up with suitable policies on energy, GHG emission reduction and contribute to responding to climate change and green growth.
Development of such a scientific, transparent and helpful this instrument has enabled policymakers to come up with relevant policy measures in energy and GHG emission, contributing to responding to climate change and green growth. The Vietnam 2050 Calculator is available online so that everyone can access and search for information on energy and GHG emission. This is also a helpful instrument in developing Việt Nam’s INDC report and studying measures for implementing Paris Agreement in the following time.
What province has been selected to pilot the 2050 Calculator Project?
Mr. Hoàng Văn Tâm: With support from the UK Embassy in Hà Nội, the Project is assisting Đà Nẵng city in piloting a provincial 2050 Calculator version. It is expected that in March 2017, the 2050 Calculator for Đà Nẵng will be finished. This will be the first local version. Hopefully, it will help provide local policymakers with relevant information for achieving local climate change objectives and green growth. In the coming period, the Project will continue propaganda, dissemination and technical assistance for other provinces to scale up the 2050 Calculator usage and contribute to sustainable development of our country.
Thank you!
Phương Linh
(Implemented