Challenges of the energy sector in the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
The energy sector accounts for the largest proportion of emissions in Vietnam's industry, which poses a significant challenge for the goal of green energy conversion to meet the rapidly growing economy.
According to Mr. Doan Ngoc Duong - Deputy Director of the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), in the period of 2020 - 2023, although the world economy and politics have many complex fluctuations, the Vietnamese economy still has a positive recovery and development. Vietnam is making strong efforts towards the goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045.
In that context, Vietnam's energy and electricity demand in the coming years will continue to increase rapidly to meet the needs of the economy and people's livelihood.
Analyzing the above issue more closely, Mr. Nguyen Tuyen Tam - Head of Planning Department, Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy said that the energy sector emits the most greenhouse gases today, almost the entire amount of greenhouse gas emissions of SO2, NOX and about 85% of dust emissions come from the energy sector, mainly from coal and oil combustion, as well as from natural gas and biomass (International Energy Agency, 2016).
Accordingly, in 2020, total greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam amounted to 370.7 million tons of CO2 equivalent, of which the energy sector accounted for 67% of emissions (247 million tons of CO2). Agricultural and industrial production processes account for 24% (88.3 million tons CO2) and 18% (68.2 million tons CO2) of total greenhouse gas emissions, respectively (Climate Change Strategy).
Greenhouse gas emissions from energy use and energy exploitation have increased from 141.2 million tons of CO2 equivalent in 2010 to 247 million tons of CO2 equivalent in 2020, of which 45% of emissions are related to activities of electricity production in 2020.