Viet Nam Youth Statement on Climate Change 2023

I. Preamble

The impact of climate change poses a significant challenge to our society, with severe consequences affecting all aspects of life, including socioeconomic aspects. Vietnam ranks among the top five countries most vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels, according to the UNDP's annual assessment of extreme weather events between 1997-2016. Specifically, Vietnam is 5th on the Global Climate Risk Index (2018) and 8th on the Long-Term Climate Risk Index (CRI). Addressing climate change is an imperative issue that requires collaborative efforts and collective responsibility. Vietnam, being an active member of international communities, has ratified the Framework Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. Moreover, the country is proactively incorporating strategies to tackle climate change into its national policies, especially in the realm of integration and development. Notably, the Prime Minister of Vietnam recently committed to a net-zero emissions strategy (NetZero) by 2050, marking a significant stride in the country’s fight against climate change.

Since 2020, the Youth4Climate initiative - a partnership between UNDP Viet Nam and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) has been instrumental in bolstering your contribution in national climate ambition. Originating from this initiative, the Youth Climate Action Network Vietnam (YNet) has spearheaded the movement, launching diverse platforms for young people to build capacity and advocate for youth voices in climate policy. The Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) is an opportunity for Vietnamese youth to speak up and contribute meaningfully to climate change issues. In 2022, the Youth Climate Action Network (YNet) organized LCOY 2022, centering on two themes: Action for Climate Empowerment and Climate Change and Health. Vietnamese youth supported this initiative and signed up in large numbers. In 2023, YNet cooperated with UNDP Vietnam's initiative - Youth Climate Policy Working Group (YPWG) to organize LCOY Vietnam, centered on two themes: Youth and Energy Transition and Climate Change Education.

II. Executive Summary

Young people in Vietnam have proposed solutions aimed at developing initiatives and activities centered on two main themes: Climate Change Education and Energy Transition. The recommendations put forth stem from the collective consensus of delegate groups, focusing on pivotal issues that stakeholders need to address in relation to Vietnam’s climate situation."

Regarding Climate Change Education: As Vietnam has enacted a series of legislations, policies, and strategies in response to climate change, the government has emphasized the integration of climate change education for both the general public and youth through communication and educational programs. Education, combined with active youth participation in decision-making, stands as a cornerstone in empowering the youth to address climate-related challenges. It is imperative to prioritize education to enhance knowledge and capacity training, enabling young people not only to safeguard themselves but also to actively respond to the impacts of climate change.

Regarding Energy Transition: Given the current scenario of dwindling resources coupled with the evolving climate landscope, Vietnam is progressively moving towards a carbon-neutral future. Notably, in December 2022, Vietnam joined the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)2, establishing collaborative ties with developed countries on aspects of finance, technology, capacity building, and policy enhancement in renewable energy. Vietnam is the third developing country to adopt JETP, following its fruitful execution in South Africa and Indonesia. Within the JETP framework, Vietnam commits to reducing Vietnam’s emissions by a cumulative 200 megatons of greenhouse gas by 2030 and a further 300 megatons by 2035. Vietnam anticipates unveiling its JETP Resource Mobilization Plan (JETP – RMP) by November 2023, as mentioned in the JETP Political Declaration of 2022. Significantly, JETP ensures a balanced distribution of benefits and costs across diverse socio-economic strata by offering support mechanisms, such as new employment avenues for those affected. Hence, JETP represents a critical advancement in Vietnam's energy transition journey, aligning the nation with its climate targets and paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable energy future. In this transition, Vietnamese youth emerge as pivotal players, taking on roles as the primary workforce in energy sectors, policy proponents, energy entrepreneurs, and influential societal figures, reinforcing their significant influence in the process.

III. Statements

We, the Vietnamese youth,

Recognize the significance of formulating a statement for Vietnamese youth, as well as emphasizing the involvement of Vietnamese youth in activities aimed at addressing Climate Change and protecting the environment.

Affirm that addressing climate change is solely the responsibility of an individual or a singular organization but demands the collective effort of society at large and nations globally.

Call for immediate actions to restrain the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and realize the long-term objectives set out in the Climate Change Agreement.

In pursuit of holistic Climate Action, we, the Vietnamese youth, declare:

For Climate Change Education:

We recommend that the Ministry of Education and Training embed Climate Change as an official subject into the preschool curriculum, thereby nurturing awareness of children from the very inception of their educational journey.
We advocate for the Ministry of Education and Training to augment both the teaching duration and quality of climate-integrated content in mandatory high school subjects, including the integration of research activities and practical activities.
We encourage the Ministry of Education and Training to craft policies, instructional materials and toolkits for educators to streamline the infusion of Climate Change Education into existing curricula. It's vital that these resources maintain uniformity and consistency, ensuring a seamless transition between different educational stages.
We propose that the Ministry of Education and Training refine the training modules for teachers on bolstering knowledge and pedagogical skills, ensuring an effective integration of Climate Change Education. Such programs must emphasize quality, ensuring teachers' ability to apply these integrated skills in real-world teaching scenarios.

For Energy Transition:

We urge educational establishments and corporate entities to foster rigorous training in knowledge acquisition and skill development. Further, it's essential to carve out career pathways for youth and students specializing in the energy sector, enabling the proficient mobilization of human resources for Energy Transition.
We urge the Government to initiate platforms and forums where the youth can actively engage, offering direct consultations to policymakers. Such interactions are vital for the realization of Energy Transition objectives, including frameworks like the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and Nationally Determined Contributions.
We recommend that the Government, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, channel preferential financing and refine policies/legal frameworks pertaining to Energy Transition. This is especially crucial for enterprises, particularly social ventures, to alleviate bureaucratic hurdles and stimulate the corporate domain's inclination towards pioneering energy projects.

IV. Acknowledgement

We would like to sincerely thank all the organizations and units Movers Program, Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform - YECAP, Bitexco Group, Green Future Project - Long Hung Pagoda, Gieo, Live & Learn Vietnam as sponsors and partners accompanying us in the process of building the Statement.

We sincerely thank:

VNYP, NGC, Tagom, The Stratic, GUC, and 350VN are member organizations of the Youth Climate Action Network - YNet Vietnam;
88 youth delegates of the Vietnamese Youth Conference on Climate Change - LCOY Vietnam 2023

for directly contributing voices and building the Viet Nam Youth Statement on Climate Change 2023.

In particular, we would like to sincerely thank the Youth Climate Action Network - YNet Vietnam and Youth Policy Working Group for coordinating the implementation of the Local Conference of Youth on Climate Change - LCOY Viet Nam 2023 and coordinating the process of developing the Viet Nam Youth Statement on Climate Change 2023.

Once again, we would like to thank all the organizations and individuals who have supported and created opportunities for Vietnamese youth to speak out and contribute to the Vietnamese and global climate!

Viet Nam Youth Statement on Climate Change 2023 is a call for Vietnamese youth to send to relevant parties before the COP28 Conference. This declaration is through consultation with young people attending the Vietnamese Youth Conference on Climate - LCOY 2023 and young people in the YNet Vietnam Youth Climate Action Network from July to September 2023.