Ha Noi, 8 February 2023 – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Vietnam Association for Vocational Education and Training & Social Work, organized the Green Transport Debate Competition.  

The contest aims to raise awareness and enhance students' knowledge in the field of low-carbon and green transportation, which are sustainable measures to cope with the impact of climate change in Viet Nam. Contestants are Vietnamese students from universities, colleges, and academics, with the ages range of 18 and 22, who love debating and want to contribute to climate change mitigation efforts in Viet Nam.

The competition will be taken place from Feb 8th, 2023, to Mar 15th, 2023, in which the Preliminary rounds will be from Feb 8th to Feb 20th. The Northern round will be on Mar 1st in Hanoi, the Central round will be on Mar 6th in Thua Thien Hue, the Southern round will be on Mar 10th in Ho Chi Minh city, and the Final round will be on Mar 15th in Ha Noi.

Participants can apply to their universities or by filling up the link: https://forms.gle/C1vnerTjFhxvqDEJ9.

In Viet Nam, the transportation sector contributes significantly to the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to the Ministry of Transport (MOT), in 2019, the emission from the transport sector was 45 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) and is forecasted to increase on average 6-7% per year and would double to 90 million tCO2e by 2030. Road transport accounts for 80% of the total transport sector's GHG emissions. In addition to considerable GHG emissions, fossil-fuel vehicles emit substantial amounts of solid matter and fine particles (i.e., PM2.5). It can cause cancer, severe respiratory issues, and potentially lead to other health problems.

In July 2022, the Action plan for the transport sector's green energy transition and reduction of carbon dioxide and methane emissions was approved in Viet Nam. It aims to fuel switching to electricity and green energy for all transport vehicles and equipment to achieve zero emission targets by 2050.

Low-carbon and eco-friendly green transport include several modes: cycling, walking, public transportation, and electric vehicles. Using green transport modes can help reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality and the impact of climate change.

Speaking on behalf of UNDP Viet Nam, Mr. Patrick Haverman, Deputy Resident Representative, called for: "Action to join in creating a sustainable future with green transportation at the forefront. The UNDP Viet Nam is proud to take the lead in this journey. Together, let's pave the way to a cleaner, greener tomorrow. From government agencies to the private sector, communities, and individuals, especially the young generation - everyone has a part to play in achieving the national targets for GHG emission reduction. This debate, initiated by UNDP, is just the starting point. It aims to ignite the passion in every heart and empower people to choose eco-friendly, low-carbon modes of transportation. Let's make history and bring positive change together!".

This debate is one of many activities of the Project "Catalyzing a Sustainable Shift towards E-Mobility" funded by the Government of Japan. The project aims to reduce GHG emissions by improving policies and the environment, enabling E-Mobility development at the national level, and implementing pilot activities promoting E-Mobility in Viet Nam.

Details of the contest are published on Fanpage "Giao thông điện" (https://www.facebook.com/giaothongdien); on UNDP Vietnam's website, fanpage (https://www.undp.org/vietnam, https://www.facebook.com/undpvietnam) and on the website, the fanpage of Vietnam Association for Vocational Education and Training & Social Work (https://vavet.vn/, https://www.facebook.com/vavet.vn).

For more information, please contact:
Phan Huong Giang
CCE Media and Communications Analyst,
United Nations Development Programme
Tel: 0948466688.    Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org

Nguyen Thuy Dương
Communication Officer,
Viet Nam Association for Vocational Education and Training & Social Work.
Tel: 0976577636.     Email: nguyenduong.journalist@gmail.com