Hanoi, 23 September 2026 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam, convened the Second Leadership Board Meeting of Viet Nam National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP). The meeting discussed six priority areas in the draft National Blue Carbon Action Roadmap for 2026–2030 and opened a dialogue with financial institutions and the private sector on the enabling conditions to accelerate investment.

With support from the British Embassy to Viet Nam and the World Economic Forum, the high-level events marks the next step in translating NBCAP’s strategic direction into concrete priority actions and investment opportunities.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Vu Duc Dam Quang, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department – MAE and Standing Vice-Chair of Viet Nam NBCAP Leadership Board. It was attended by Ms. Francesca Nardini, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Viet Nam; Mr Fergus McBean, First Secretary for Climate and Nature at the British Embassy; and Ms Emily Kelly, Lead of the Blue Carbon Action Partnership (BCAP) at the Forum, together with representatives of government agencies, development partners, international organisations, academia, financial institutions, and the private sector.

The Draft Roadmap identifies six priority areas for 2026–2030: policy and governance; ecosystem conservation and restoration; finance and investment; science, data and Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV); private sector engagement and sustainable livelihoods; and capacity building and communications.

For 2026–2027, the immediate focus will be on strengthening the institutional, data and technical standards, including the Blue Taxonomy, to enable implementation and resource mobilisation. By 2030, the draft Roadmap envisions unified management of blue carbon ecosystems, while progressively integrating blue carbon into Viet Nam’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national climate commitments and sustaining livelihoods for coastal communities.  

Blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrass meadows and tidal marshes, play a vital role in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, coastal protection, and sustainable livelihoods. Their management, however, spans multiple sectors and agencies, requiring close coordination across policy, science, finance, and local implementation. The Roadmap therefore provides an overarching framework to identify strategic priorities, define the enabling conditions and resources.

A key focus of the meeting was a dialogue on mobilising investment for blue carbon, bringing together regulators, development partners, financial institutions, and the private sector. Participants exchanged views on the essential prerequisites to turn blue carbon initiatives into investment-ready projects, including policy frameworks, data, technical standards, project preparation capacity, and appropriate financing mechanisms. 
Discussions focused on the prerequisites to turn blue carbon initiatives into investment-ready projects, including enabling policy frameworks, reliable data, standards, project preparation capacity, and innovative financing.

Dr. Vu Duc Dam Quang, Deputy Director General of the International Cooperation Department, MAE underscores: “The second Leadership Board meeting marks a pivotal shift for NBCAP from building foundations to focused implementation. The Draft National Action Roadmap will help identify priorities and provide a basis to translate them into concrete programmes and projects, while connecting these projects with appropriate resources and partners, guided by Viet Nam’s development priorities.”

Ms. Francesca Nardini, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Viet Nam highlights: “The Roadmap should serve as a national framework for alignment, ensuring that investments and technical support are aligned with nationally defined priorities. UNDP remains committed to working together to translate Viet Nam's blue carbon ambition into coordinated, evidence-based, and investable action."

Mr. Fergus McBean, First Secretary for Climate and Nature at the British Embassy in Viet Nam notes: “The British Embassy commends the proactive leadership of NBCAP partners in developing the National Blue Carbon Action Roadmap. Stronger institutions and transparent, enabling policies are critical to building market confidence and crowding in private investment, ultimately supporting Viet Nam in advancing its climate and sustainable development goals.”

Ms. Emily Kelly, Lead of the Blue Carbon Action Partnership (BCAP) at the World Economic Forum remarked: “Global experience from the BCAP network, including in Indonesia and the Philippines, demonstrates that a coherent action roadmap and a clear investment framework support the enabling conditions to accelerate investment and blue carbon action. The Forum is pleased to work with MAE to support knowledge exchange, international partnerships, and public-private collaboration that advance Viet Nam’s priorities.”

The meeting also reviewed NBCAP’s progress since its launch and the first Leadership Board meeting in May 2026. The Draft Roadmap has been developed through a baseline assessment, data collection, stakeholder interviews and two consultations held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in September 2026, with the participation of government agencies, local authorities, research institutions, businesses, and relevant partners.

Moving forward, the Draft Roadmap will be further finalised for submission to MAE leadership for formal consideration and adoption. In parallel, NBCAP will deepen engagement with its partners to advance priority actions and translate the Roadmap into viable, scalable investment opportunities./.
 

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Media contact: 
Ms. Vu Thuy Dzung
International Cooperation Dept. - MAE
Email: nbcapvietnam@mae.gov.vn
Mobile: (84) 0915 323 313

Ms. Phan Huong Giang
CCEE Media & Communications Analyst 
UNDP in Viet Nam
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org 
Mobile: (+84) 0948 466 688

Mr. Vu Hoang Quyen
Engagement and Communication Associate
NBCAP Secretariat – UNDP in Viet Nam
Email: vu.hoang.quyen@undp.org
Telephone: (84) 0243 850 0100, ext: 0368    

About Blue carbon

Blue carbon refers to the carbon captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass beds, and tidal marshes. A defining feature of these ecosystems is their ability to accumulate large amounts of carbon both in their biomass (stems and leaves) and in the sediment layers beneath mudflats and the seabed. Scientific evidence shows that these ecosystems can absorb carbon at rates two to four times higher on average — and store up to ten times more carbon overall — than terrestrial forests. They also protect coastlines, conserve biodiversity, and secure the livelihoods of coastal communities. (Source: IPCC)

About the National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP) Viet Nam

The National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP) Viet Nam is a country-led, multi-stakeholder platform designed to curate knowledge, finance, and innovation to conserve and restore blue carbon ecosystems, towards enhancing climate resilience and supporting national commitments.

NBCAP is established under a Letter of Intent signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) in October 2025, making Viet Nam the third country in the world — after Indonesia and the Philippines — to launch this partnership. The Viet Nam NBCAP is led by MAE with financial support from the UK Government through WEF. The NBCAP Secretariat is hosted by UNDP Viet Nam in coordination with the International Cooperation Department of MAE and WEF.

Established under Decision No. 1706/QD-BNNMT, the NBCAP Viet Nam Leadership Board is chaired by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Mr. Le Cong Thanh and comprises 25 members representing government agencies, financial institutions, development partners, research institutions, and non-governmental organisations, including:
•    7 ministries and government agencies: Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Justice;
•    3 commercial banks: Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV), Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank), and Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank);
•    3 international development partners: British Embassy to Viet Nam, UNDP, and World Economic Forum (WEF);
•    2 non-governmental organisations (NGOs): WWF-Viet Nam and Save the Children;
•    3 research institutions: International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), Institute of Strategy and Policy for Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE), and Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, Environment and Marine Sciences (IMHENS).