Viet Nam to Cut Nearly 30 Million Tons of CO₂ in Waste Management

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) has set a target to reduce nearly 30 million tons of CO₂ emissions in the waste management sector as part of efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Saigon Times – February 22, 2025

On February 21, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced that it had issued a decision approving the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Plan for the Waste Management Sector through 2030. According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the plan targets a reduction of nearly 30 million tons of CO₂ in the waste management sector to support Viet Nam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Specifically, MONRE aims that by 2030, using domestic resources alone, Viet Nam will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the waste management sector by 18.3% compared with the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario — equivalent to 8.46 million tons of CO₂-eq (other greenhouse gases with stronger warming effects are converted into CO₂-equivalent values).
Of this amount, methane emissions will be reduced by 7.28 million tons of CO₂-eq, and total methane emissions will not exceed 40.98 million tons of CO₂-eq.

With sufficient international support in terms of finance and suitable technologies, emission reductions in the waste management sector could increase to 63.5% compared with the BAU scenario — equivalent to 29.42 million tons of CO₂-eq.
In this enhanced scenario, methane reductions would reach 26.94 million tons of CO₂-eq, with total methane emissions capped at 17.5 million tons of CO₂-eq.

To achieve these goals, MONRE has outlined 11 emission-reduction measures.

Seven measures for solid waste management include:

• Minimizing and separating household solid waste at the source

• Methane-recovery treatment for organic municipal waste

• Recycling solid waste

• Producing compost

• Waste incineration and waste-to-energy incineration

• Producing refuse-derived fuel (RDF) pellets

• Landfilling with methane capture

Four measures for wastewater management include:

For domestic wastewater:

• Expanding the collection and centralized treatment of domestic wastewater

• Methane-recovery treatment for domestic wastewater

For industrial wastewater:

• Reducing industrial wastewater generation at the source

• Recovering methane from industrial wastewater treatment

Additionally, MONRE noted that it will develop and完善 policies, technical guidelines, and technical standards — starting in 2025. Other tasks include implementing emission-reduction measures (including methane mitigation), conducting scientific research and technological development, raising public awareness and capacity, expanding international cooperation, and mobilizing resources.

Minh Anh

Tags: greenhouse gas reduction, waste management
Source: KTSG Online