On December 4, at the inaugural meeting of the Inter-ministerial standing working group tasked with implementing the Vietnam–Denmark joint action plan under the Green Strategic Partnership and Comprehensive Partnership, senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam and their Danish counterparts conducted a comprehensive review of cooperation achievements for 2024–2025 and outlined bold new priorities for the 2026–2028 period. Emphasis was placed on driving the green transition, strengthening environmental and energy capacities, and advancing sustainable development goals.
Reviewing the 2024–2025 implementation of the Vietnam–Denmark joint action plan
Mr. Pham Ngoc Mau, Deputy Director, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
In the political and diplomatic sphere, Vietnam and Denmark have made significant strides in strengthening green dialogue. The two countries successfully facilitated high-level visits, delegation exchanges, and strategic engagements at regional and global forums, while also holding regular Deputy Minister-Level Political Consultations. Vietnam actively supported discussions within ASEAN on Denmark’s proposal to establish Sectoral Dialogue Partnerships in specialized fields.
In climate, environment, and energy cooperation, both sides have advanced the Vietnam–Denmark Energy Partnership Programme (DEPP3) 2020–2025, which focuses on enhancing long-term energy sector planning; Strengthening capacity to integrate renewable energy into the national grid; Promoting low-carbon industry development.
In parallel, Vietnam and Denmark have cooperated within the International Partners Group (IPG) to support the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in Vietnam. As part of these efforts, the IPG proposed a portfolio of 23 priority projects for JETP implementation (IPG23), including one Denmark-funded technical assistance project valued at USD 3.55 million.
Collaborative momentum also extended to advancing green ambitions in key sectors. In 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam and the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable food and animal feed production and strategic collaboration on food safety. In 2025, both sides formalized the Phase 3 Technical Assistance Agreement under the strategic health sector cooperation framework, aimed at bolstering primary healthcare systems with a focus on prevention and management of non-communicable diseases.
In the realm of education and training, a series of enhanced capacity-building programs were delivered in 2024–2025, covering food safety management, environmental health, livestock management, and sustainable agriculture for Vietnamese officials. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Training advanced the Vietnam–Denmark vocational education development project, successfully completing Phase 2.
The Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance has played a pivotal coordination role in bilateral fisheries cooperation, advancing green and sustainable practices through high-level bilateral dialogues and technical exchanges. Joint initiatives have broadened future collaboration opportunities to promote profitable, efficient, and environmentally friendly aquaculture systems.
Proposals to strengthen environmental policy and accelerate the green transition
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong, Deputy Director, Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
Drawing on practical experience and the urgency of environmental protection imperatives, the Department of Environment proposed key strategic cooperation directions to enhance management effectiveness and response capacities.
A priority is to expand international exchange on environmental policy development, especially models for managing and reducing plastic waste and pathways to limit microplastics in consumer goods. Access to cutting-edge global standards will help Vietnam refine its legal framework and align with modern environmental governance.
Additionally, technical assistance is needed to upgrade environmental monitoring systems, including managerial capabilities, standardized procedures, and methodologies—particularly for the marine environment, which faces acute pressures from climate change and economic activities. Strengthened cooperation in air quality forecasting and early warning systems was also proposed, with a view toward establishing cross-regional governance mechanisms in response to increasingly complex air pollution dynamics.
Another strategic focus is reducing emissions from transport and urban operations through research on green transport models, curbing open burning, and controlling construction-related dust emissions at the source.
Beyond technical measures, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thien Phuong advocated for policy enhancements to promote green products. She emphasized the development of criteria for recognizing environmentally friendly products and expanding support mechanisms for goods certified with green or eco labels, providing incentives for enterprises to transition toward sustainable production.
Expanding cooperation on green ports, smart logistics, and low-emission transport
Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Construction
Denmark, a global maritime leader with a comprehensive maritime innovation ecosystem, possesses advanced port infrastructure and capabilities in green maritime technology.
Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy underscored opportunities to deepen cooperation in the maritime sector, proposing increased delegation exchanges, technical workshops, and thematic seminars on digital transformation in port management, green logistics, and information technology applications aligned with Vietnam’s vision for smart, sustainable ports.
She also called for enhanced collaboration on port system governance, smart logistics solutions, and technology applications such as Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and clean energy fuels, which can contribute to modernizing Vietnam’s port infrastructure. She encouraged Denmark to support the refinement of Vietnam’s green port criteria to align with global best practices.
In the railway sector, the Ministry of Construction recommended expanding cooperation to leverage Denmark’s experience with railway electrification and policies that incentivize the modal shift from high-emission transport to environmentally friendly rail networks.
For the road transport sector, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy proposed exploring the feasibility of deploying electric vehicles (EVs) for freight and logistics in Vietnam; piloting EV and hybrid fleets suited to local conditions; enhancing integration among road, inland port, and logistics systems; and developing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) frameworks to compare EVs with conventional internal combustion engine vehicles in the Vietnamese context.
In the context of climate change exerting increasingly profound impacts across all domains of global life, Vietnam is facing unprecedented challenges while also unlocking new development opportunities. The commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 is not only an international responsibility but also a driving force for the country to accelerate its development transformation, grounded in science, technology, innovation, and digitalization. In implementing Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, the Department of Climate Change (Ministry of Agriculture & Environment) has set priority research orientations for the new phase, creating momentum for a green economy, a circular economy, and sustainable development.
On August 21 in Hanoi, the Climate Change Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held a consultation workshop on the Draft Report on Monitoring and Evaluating Climate Adaptation Activities, along with the implementation plan for the monitoring and evaluation system. The event aimed to gather feedback to refine the two drafts and lay the foundation for scientifically and comprehensively tracking and assessing adaptation activities. The workshop also highlighted the sector’s persistent efforts to fulfill national commitments in responding to climate change.
The circular economy has demonstrated great potential in promoting sustainable development and addressing environmental issues. The reporter from Agriculture and Environment Magazine had an interview with Japanese solid waste expert - Hideki Wada.
As plastic pollution emerges as one of the most pressing global environmental challenges, Vietnam has taken proactive steps to establish multistakeholder cooperation mechanisms, promote transparent data, mobilize financial resources, and actively engage in the negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty. The sixth meeting of the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Working Group, co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, UNDP, and the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Hanoi (9-10 July 2025), reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment not only to act domestically but also to stand with the international community in building a circular and sustainable economy.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is finalizing the draft National Action Plan on Air Pollution Control and Air Quality Management for 2025-2030, to be submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. More than a technical document, this initiative marks a necessary step for the country to proactively address complex environmental risks and affirms Vietnam’s long-term vision and strong commitment to safeguarding air quality, a critical factor in public health and national development.
