Future in the making - Integrating youth perspectives in Viet Nam's Just Energy Transition

Future in the making - Integrating youth perspectives in Viet Nam's Just Energy Transition

March 23, 2024

In recent years, Viet Nam's just energy transition (JET) has garnered significant attention as a crucial element of the country’s climate response and sustainable development goals. This policy brief aims to shed light on the role of youth in this pivotal shift, based on extensive research, including surveys and interviews conducted with over 700 Vietnamese youth and three policy contributors. The findings reveal that more than half of the respondents (55%) expressed a keen interest in JET initiatives, primarily motivated by their awareness of the adverse impacts of climate change. Yet, many lacked in-depth knowledge and confidence, notably those lacking previous energy training and a general unawareness of the socioeconomic prospects within the JET framework. These findings point to a significant gap: while youth are willing to engage in sustainable energy development, many do not consider the energy sector a viable career option, stemming from a lack of accessible, high-quality information and educational resources. Additionally, youth typically rely on informal sources like social networks and community organisations for information, contributing to a rudimentary understanding of energy transition technologies. Specific barriers were also identified in localised contexts such as Ho Chi Minh City and Ninh Thuan Province, where youth face challenges ranging from lack of decision-making power to high initial costs in solar installations and from inadequate confidence to insufficient skills for engaging in wind power projects.