Vietnam PM receives Alok Sharma, President of COP26

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: The President of the COP26 held high-level discussions with Vietnamese government leaders on Monday, on climate change response, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, net-zero commitments and the establishment of an energy partnership.

Alok Sharma, President of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), is visiting Vietnam to discuss energy transition and climate change impact mitigation with State leaders.

Meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Sharma expressed his high regard for the country’s commitments at COP26 and the actions taken to realise these responsibilities.

Sharma said he would work with other countries, international organisations and the United Nations to help Vietnam execute its commitments in just energy transition.

PM Chinh agreed that climate change is an issue that affects the global population as a whole, and therefore needs a global approach.

Vietnam as a developing country needs an appropriate plan and the support from developed nations and financial partners in human resources training, science and technology management, and developing comprehensive frameworks, he added.

PM Chinh said that the country also has tremendous potential in terms of wind and solar energy and sees this as a certain area for development, and asked the United Kingdom and the international community to help provide accurate assessment on this potential.

Vietnam is also encouraging investors in the field of wind and solar energy. However, prices for electricity generated from these sources need to be suitable and affordable for the Vietnamese.

The COP26 president said he would convey the PM’s message on equality and fairness in energy transition and climate change mitigation to development partners, and hoped that the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) would be approved in COP27 in Egypt at the end of the year.