Ha Noi, 1 November 2022 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change (DCC) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), launched the Special Report entitled "Youth for Climate Action in Viet Nam 2022". This second special Report was introduced to Secretary-General Guterres last week during the Youth Policy Dialogue organized during his official visit to Viet Nam.

This year's Report, like the one from 2021, was co-written by 24 young authors from all over Viet Nam's. The Report contained four key themes: youth in climate policy and decision-making processes, accelerating the transition towards the circular economy, climate mitigation towards net zero, and climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

The authors documented and tracked more than 130 youth-led climate initiatives and projects that were outstanding good practices of meaningful climate action. They also identified several priority accelerators moving forward, including establishing a Youth Climate Policy Working Group, education and capacity-building programmes on climate change, and financial and technical support for youth-led projects.

According to the Special Report, youth face two key obstacles: financial limitations and a lack of technical knowledge and skills. The Report also recommends accelerators, such as developing a climate financing hub for youth, promoting the role of youth in climate governance and diplomacy, and creating a set of specialized publications for youth.

At the event, the youth also presented their youth statement in which they called on the Government to prioritize investment in renewable power plants; establish the roadmap to phase out fossil fuel by 2030; restrict financial institutions from investing in high-emission projects; and minimize the use of single-use plastic products to eliminate these products by 2030. Young people suggested local governments and stakeholders engage youth in organizing communication and awareness-raising campaigns on climate change, promoting green lifestyles, and resilient climate action. Furthermore, young people also urged the Government to create an enabling legal framework and basis to support individuals, initiators, movements, and youth organizations to take climate action, particularly by creating favorable mechanisms to empower actions by youth minorities, marginalized groups, and those directly affected by climate change. Most importantly, young people recommend the priority to establish a working group on youth and climate policy to represent youth voices at national and international policy forums.

In the opening remarks, Ms. Ramla Al Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam, said, "UNDP calls on all development partners to join hands with us to facilitate and advance an environment in which youth can rise to fully occupy their roles as agents of change." "We pledge to support the Vietnamese youth, to ensure their concerns and ideas are heard, and to continue working with them to leverage their creativity to boost climate action. It is not only our interest but also our obligation to ensure that the youth and future generations will be able to live in a just, green, and resilient future."

"The launch of the Special Report of Vietnamese Youth Action for Climate 2022, which takes place before COP27, has a very important meaning, contributing to the voice of Vietnamese youth in response to global climate actions. We hope agencies and organizations create more conditions for the Vietnamese youth to participate and contribute to the nation's efforts to respond to climate change to accelerate the achievement of the net zero emissions target by 2050," said Mr. Tang The Cuong, Director General of the Department of Climate Change.

"Vietnamese youth have taken climate actions and will continue to do more, not only by proactively linking all the many social resources to work together to respond to climate change, but also by lending a louder voice at the local, regional, and global forums. We consider climate change to be a threat to existence but also serves as a catalyst for creativity and action toward a sustainable future," said Nguyen Van Bao, the Report's lead author.

Attending the event are representatives of MONRE, the Viet Nam Youth Union, UNDP, embassies of Egypt, the United Kingdom, youths, and media.

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To watch the recording of the event, please visit:
1, https://www.facebook.com/undpvietnam (In English)
2, https://www.facebook.com/gioitrehanhdongvibiendoikhihau (In Vietnamese)
 
For more information, please kindly contact:
Phan Huong Giang
Media and Communication Analyst, Climate Change and Environment
United Nations Development Programme
Mobile: +84 948466688
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org

Bui Viet Hien
Programme Officer on Climate Change and Resilience
United Nations Development Programme
Mobile: +84 913239038
Email: bui.viet.hien@undp.org