Energy and greenhouse gases

Net Zero and Vietnam's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions

2023-12-25 10:40:04 | Lượt xem: 874 | Energy and greenhouse gases

What does Net Zero mean? This article explains the concept, Vietnam's greenhouse gas reduction commitment, practical action for businesses and why this matters for the planet's future.

Net Zero is the goal of achieving net zero emissions. For businesses, the journey starts with understanding emission sources, obtaining reliable data and prioritising practical emission reductions in their operations.

Net Zero — the goal of net zero emissions

What does Net Zero mean?

Net zero emissions are achieved when human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are balanced by removals from the atmosphere within a defined boundary and period. Net Zero does not mean that all emissions have ceased, or that buying credits can replace every effort to cut emissions.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency help reduce emissions. Absorption and greenhouse gas removals have a role in addressing residual emissions; these activities need to be quantified, monitored and transparently reported.

Vietnam's commitment

Vietnam announced its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 at COP26 in 2021. The commitment was reiterated in its updated 2022 NDC. See Vietnam's NDC on the UNFCCC website.

Areas for action include the energy transition, energy efficiency, low-emission transport, forest protection and resource management. Each business should consider its production characteristics, investment capacity and applicable requirements when planning implementation.

Where should a business start?

Define the boundary: identify the facilities, activities and reporting period.
Collect data: electricity, fuels, materials, transport and other relevant sources; retain supporting records for traceability.
Prepare an inventory: select appropriate methods and emission factors, and state assumptions and data limitations.
Prioritise emission reductions: improve operations, maintenance and equipment efficiency, and consider suitable energy solutions.
Monitor results: assign responsibilities, update data and compare performance with targets.

How can ISO standards support this work?

Greenhouse gas standards distinguish organisational inventories, emission-reduction projects and product carbon footprints. These are different scopes, so the standard should match the intended use.

Standard	Main scope
ISO 14064-1	Quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and removals at organisational level.
ISO 14064-2	Quantifying, monitoring and reporting emission reductions or removal enhancements at project level.
ISO 14064-3	Verifying and validating greenhouse gas statements.
ISO 14067	Quantifying the carbon footprint of a product.
ISO 14065 and ISO 14066	Requirements for bodies and personnel competence involved in validating and verifying environmental information.

Refer to ISO's climate-change standards and the ISO/TC 207/SC 7 project catalogue to check editions and scopes. Choosing a standard does not replace checking reporting obligations under Vietnamese regulations.