RC and UNCT Courtesy Call on Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment

Key Messages

1. UN Commitment

Reaffirm UN’s strong and enduring commitment to supporting Viet Nam’s climate priorities. Convey that we stand in solidarity with the Government and people of Viet Nam in advancing sustainable, resilient, and inclusive development. 

Convey that the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) provides integrated and coordinated support for Viet Nam’s climate action agenda. Through the joint Government of Viet Nam and UN Cooperation Framework (2022-2026), we have prioritized that “by 2026, people in Viet Nam, especially those at risk of being left behind, will benefit from and contribute to a safer and cleaner environment resulting from Viet Nam’s effective mitigation and adaptation to climate change, disaster-risk reduction and resilience building, promotion of a circular economy, provision of clean and renewable energy, and sustainable management of natural resources.”

Highlight particular attention to those most vulnerable to climate change, including rural women, children and adolescents, persons with disabilities and ethnic minorities whose lives, livelihoods, health and wellbeing are increasingly at risk.

2. UN Secretary General’s Priorities for Climate Action

Inform that on 22 July, the UN SG delivered a “moment of opportunity” speech[1] on climate action, which underscored the urgency of aligning Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with the 1.5 degree target agreed at the Paris COP. Note that the UN SG emphasized the need for national climate plans to cover all emissions, across the entire economy; and integrate energy, climate and sustainable development priorities into one coherent vision.

Stress that the UN SG called for specific action on 6 opportunity areas:

1. use new national climate plans to go all-out on the energy transition
2. build the energy systems of the 21st century
3. meet the world’s surging energy demand sustainably
4. ensure just energy transition
5. use trade policy to support climate policy
6. unleash the full force of finance – driving investment to markets with massive potential. 

Note that Viet Nam is well-positioned to seize these 6 opportunities: with its strong and long-term commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, participation in JETP and through its most updated NDC 3.0.

Recognize that delivering on this commendable ambition requires solid multiple partnerships, substantial financing, private investment, technology transfer and capacity building – not only to meet the net-zero emission goals but ensure a just transition where no one is left behind

3. NDC 3.0 Technical and Policy Offer:

Inform that specifically on the national climate plan (NDC 3.0), the UNCT presents a collective offer of technical and policy assistance to help advance Viet Nam’s NDCs following the Government led approach. Our shared ambition is to make the NDC inclusive and just for the most vulnerable, more ambitious, and fully aligned with both national development priorities and global climate goals.

Express hope that UN support for an inclusive NDC and integration of health priorities will add value to Viet Nam’s NDC plan and help prevent escalating climate changes and risks. This may be achieved through among others: greener technology and transport, improvements in climate smart agricultural production and deforestation, as well as integration of child-sensitive risk analysis to ensure social service systems, and community services can withstand climate shocks.

Recognize that climate change and disasters increasingly threaten lives, livelihoods and health of the people, reinforcing the need for shock-responsive social protection, particularly with the recent storms, floods, landslides, heatwaves, and air pollution occurrence. Our concerns grow especially for vulnerable groups including children, women, persons with disabilities, and ethnic minorities. 

4. Viet Nam’s High-Level Engagement and UN SG’s Invitation:

Convey that this courtesy meeting also follows up on the letter dated 21 July 2025 from the Secretary-General of the United Nations to His Excellency Mr. Lương Cường, State President of Viet Nam. The letter extends a formal invitation to the State President to participate in the high-level climate event co-convened by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, scheduled for 24 September 2025 at UN Headquarters. Express hope that Viet Nam will use this moment to announce its updated NDC aligned with the 1.5°C target, setting a bold example for others.

5. UN Climate Promise and Joint Initiatives:

The United Nations, through joint initiatives including UNDP’s Climate Promise and the work of other UN agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, FAO, ILO, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN Women and UN Habitat remain committed to accelerating climate ambition and implementation in Viet Nam. We emphasize a whole-of-society and whole-of-UN approach to drive impactful and inclusive change.

On the NDC 3.0 specifically, the UN stands ready to support the development of NDC 3.0 and is committed to assisting the Government in implementing priority climate actions in the years ahead. 

Recognize that climate action is about safeguarding people and planet resource to benefit current and future generations. Therefore, climate action is deeply interconnected with other priority sectors – such as among others in agriculture. For instance, advancing the food systems transformation agenda, ensures that Viet Nam’s efforts on climate are reinforced by more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agrifood systems. The UN stands ready to support Viet Nam in scaling up nature-based solutions, circular economy approaches in agrifood systems, and resilient livelihoods.

Offer to, among others:

• sustain substantive contributions to climate resilience across health, education, social protection, labor, gender equality, child rights, agriculture, disaster risk reduction and emergency services
• support the country to apply a just transition approach throughout those major transformations
• facilitate Viet Nam’s growing role as a knowledge hub in South–South and Triangular Cooperation, where lessons i.e. from Viet Nam’s agrifood and climate experience can inspire other countries in Asia and Africa

6. Partnership and Guidance:

Seek Minister’s guidance on how best the UNCT can tailor and align our support to Viet Nam’s climate ambitions, ensuring our cooperation is responsive, meaningful, and future-focused. 

Welcome further opportunities to explore avenues to further deepen GoV-UN partnership for transformative climate action.
 

[1]Secretary-General's remarks on Climate Action "A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age" [as delivered; scroll down for All-French] | United Nations Secretary-General