The year 2024 marked significant milestones in the natural resources and environment sector, showcasing a strong commitment to sustainable development and addressing challenges posed by climate change. At the 2024 annual summary and 2025 mission planning conference held on December 21, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced the sector's top events of 2024.

On December 19, 2024, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Minister Do Duc Duy held a meeting with Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, the Australian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Vietnam. During the meeting, Minister Do Duc Duy presented the Medal for the Cause of Natural Resources and Environment to Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski in recognition of his significant contributions to fostering bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of natural resources and environmental protection.

As part of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s official visit to Japan, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Do Duc Duy met with Mr. Hatoyama Jiro, State Minister of the Cabinet Office for Ocean Policy of Japan, to discuss the development of resource management and marine environmental protection programs for Vietnam.

On December 3, Vietnam's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Do Duc Duy, led a delegation to meet with Singapore’s Minister Tan See Leng, who is concurrently the Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry.

On December 3, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Tran Quy Kien, held a significant working session with a delegation from the Russian Federation to advance cooperation in marine geological and mineral research. The meeting marked a pivotal moment in Vietnam-Russia relations, setting the stage for a promising collaboration on offshore mineral exploration and sustainable development.

The 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the Global Agreement on Plastic Pollution (INC-5) officially opened in Busan, South Korea, with the expectation of concluding negotiations and adopting the Global Agreement on Plastic Pollution. However, the negotiation process faces significant challenges due to differing perspectives among participants.

On the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Stanley Loh, Permanent Secretary of Sustainability and Environment of Singapore.

On November 19, at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Le Cong Thanh, presided over a significant event. This event marked the announcement of Vietnam's updated National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050 (NAP).

On November 19, on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Le Cong Thanh, held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Rachel Kyte, the UK’s Special Representative on Climate.

On November 16, in Azerbaijan, Mr. Pham Van Tan, Deputy Director General of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Deputy Head of Vietnam's Negotiation Delegation at COP 29, met with Ms. Anne Hammill, Vice President of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Their discussion focused on potential areas of cooperation, including implementing climate change adaptation initiatives and developing a carbon market.

On November 13th, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Le Cong Thanh held a significant meeting with Ms. Michaela Baur, National Director of the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ) in Vietnam. The discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in areas such as climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and environmental protection. Key projects like VN-SIPA and AMUSE were highlighted as pivotal initiatives aimed at improving living environments, strengthening Vietnam’s capacity in natural resource management, and supporting sustainable development.

On October 30 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, Le Cong Thanh, met with Caroline Beresford, New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, and Anna Broadhurst, Chief Climate Change Advisor for New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The meeting signified the importance of addressing climate change as a top priority in the cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand, particularly as the two countries approach the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2025.

On October 24 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) of Vietnam and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at fostering cooperation in the fields of environment and climate change. This agreement marks a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between the two nations, particularly as the global community intensifies efforts toward achieving net-zero emissions and sustainable development goals.

On October 20, 2024, the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) officially opened in Cali, Colombia, with over 23,000 delegates from around the world. Vietnam, as an active participant, reaffirms its commitment to international biodiversity conservation efforts, working toward the ambitious goals set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

On October 11, 2024, at the Huynh Thuc Khang Press School in Tan Thai commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, Natural Resource and Environment Magazine celebrated its 21st anniversary (October 13, 2003 - October 13, 2024) and held a symposium on the theme: "Enhancing the role of members of the Journalists’ Association in developing the content of the Natural Resource and Environment Magazine."

On October 14, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh had a meeting with Mr. Prasanna De Silva, CEO of the International Office of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). This meeting not only reaffirmed the strong and enduring partnership between Vietnam and WWF, which has lasted for more than 30 years, but also opened up new opportunities for expanded cooperation in areas such as nature conservation, climate change response, and tackling plastic pollution.

On October 10, 2024, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh held a meeting with Ms. Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine. Also in attendance were the Irish Ambassador to Vietnam, officials from Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, and representatives from relevant units under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.