Vietnam is developing a National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP), aiming to implement sustainable cooling practices, reduce emissions, and adapt to extreme weather conditions.

Accelerating green cooling efforts in Vietnam

On June 24 in Hanoi, the Department of Climate Change (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) in collaboration with the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) under the United Nations Office for Project Services, held a consultation session as part of technical support for developing the National Cooling Action Plan for Vietnam.

Currently, 20% of global electricity production is used for cooling and air conditioning. International studies warn that, without intervention, greenhouse gas emissions from cooling could double by 2030 and triple by 2100.

According to Tang The Cuong, Director of the Department of Climate Change, climate change is evolving in complex ways. The World Meteorological Organization’s January 2025 report declared 2024 the hottest year in history, with abnormal land and sea surface temperatures, record-high ocean heat, and extreme weather events impacting many countries. In Vietnam, numerous provinces recorded their highest temperatures ever, including a record 44°C in Dong Ha (Quang Tri) on April 28, 2024 - the highest since 1976.

Rapid urbanization has intensified the "urban heat island" effect, where urban areas are 3–5°C hotter than surrounding rural regions during heatwaves. This is caused by low vegetation cover, dense construction, heat-absorbing materials, and high population activity.

The rise in temperature and urban growth has driven up demand for cooling devices. Electricity consumption for cooling now stands at about 71.4 TWh - 25.2% of national electricity use - and is expected to triple by 2050. This also increases the use of refrigerants, which damage the ozone layer and accelerate global warming.

“This presents an urgent need for the government to manage greenhouse gas emissions and protect the ozone layer, in line with global climate goals,” Cuong stressed.

Vietnam has joined initiatives such as the Fluorocarbon Life Cycle Management Initiative, the Cooling Efficiency Alliance (2020), and the Global Cooling Pledge (2023). The government has also issued a national plan (Decision 496/QD-TTg, June 11, 2024) to manage and phase out ozone-depleting and greenhouse gas substances. Cooling is recognized as a key contributor to Vietnam’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets.

Toward a comprehensive national cooling strategy

Vietnam is working closely with ETP, the United Nations ESCAP, and UNEP to develop a comprehensive NCAP. According to Cuong, the plan will support the management of substances regulated under the Montreal Protocol and promote low-carbon, energy-efficient, and sustainable cooling technologies - key to achieving Vietnam’s net-zero emissions target by 2050.

John Robert Cotton, Deputy Director of ETP, emphasized that NCAP will focus on reducing emissions through sustainable urban cooling, supporting vulnerable rural communities, and enhancing the cold chains for medicine and food.

ETP and its partners have worked with Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines on energy transition strategies. Vietnam has led the way with its net-zero pledge and a clear implementation roadmap. The NCAP is expected to spur new industry developments and position green cooling as a vital emissions-reduction strategy.

Dang Hong Hanh, CEO of VNEEC, shared that the NCAP is built upon existing climate laws, especially aligning with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. It also aligns with Vietnam’s national plan for phasing out ozone-depleting substances and controlled greenhouse gases.

The fisheries sector, with extensive cold storage infrastructure nationwide, also has high demand for cooling technology upgrades.

NCAP is projected to reduce electricity consumption by 10 TWh by 2030 and 69 TWh by 2050 - equivalent to the annual output of four major power plants. It will also cut 97% of emissions in the cooling sector by 2050, translating to 7.8 million tons of CO₂e by 2030 and 20 million tons by 2050. Coupled with a greener electricity grid, the emission reductions will be even more significant. 

During the consultation, participants discussed ways to ensure the program’s feasibility, projected national cooling demand, proposed implementation timelines, and shared initiatives in cooperation, knowledge transfer, technology adoption, workforce development, and community-based cooling models.

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