The National Green ESG Business Programme promotes sustainable business models among enterprises in Vietnam, focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors, aiming towards green and sustainable development and contributing to the country’s socio-economic progress.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Hoang Hiep, director of the Academy for Green Growth, stated that this year’s “For a Green National Environment” programme, themed “Green Era – Era of the Nation’s Rise,” serves as an important activity in response to the country’s transformative period, contributing to national goals of emissions reduction and environmental protection.

According to Hiep, Vietnam is among the countries most severely affected by climate change. Its average temperature has increased by 0.5 to 0.7 degree Celsius per decade and is projected to rise by another 1 to 2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.

Looking back at early 2025, the air in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was thick with fine dust, with PM2.5 concentrations 16 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s safe threshold.

In addition, it is forecast that this year the country will face five to six major storms making landfall, bringing with them flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, while major urban centres are at risk of severe flooding. Meanwhile, the Mekong Delta - the nation’s rice granary - will continue to struggle against drought and saltwater intrusion. Economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless Vietnam takes strong action, Hiep emphasised.

He noted the Vietnamese Government has early recognised this issue, sharing that from January 1, 2025, a series of new environmental regulations have come into effect, including mandatory greenhouse gas inventories for over 2,100 enterprises, motorbike emission inspections, industrial emission fees, and producer responsibility for recycling.

These measures form a solid legal foundation for the country’s collective action, he said, calling on the community to join hands and take practical actions to achieve the goal of a green era.

ESG handbook released to help SMEs

A handbook providing instructions to enterprises on how to adopt the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) framework was released by the Ministry of Finance at a conference in Hanoi on March 24.