Viet Nam is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. To respond, the Government has issued the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision to 2050 (Decision No. 1422/QD-TTg dated November 19, 2024). However, these plans remain largely at the policy level and have yet to receive adequate investment for specific adaptation activities.

In the context of a global economy shifting strongly towards greening, digitalisation, and low emissions, Viet Nam has many new development opportunities but also faces numerous challenges. This requires appropriate mechanisms and policies to enhance adaptability and reduce pressure from climate change and environmental pollution in socio-economic development.

Climate change is increasing drought, reducing water resources, and intensifying saltwater intrusion in many parts of the country, especially the South Central Region, the Central Highlands, and the Mekong Delta. Therefore, applying advanced, water-saving irrigation technologies for upland crops to help efficient and sustainable production while reducing pressure on water use has become a top choice.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has issued the national action plan on combating desertification through 2030, with a vision to 2050.

In 2025, climate change has become more extreme and natural disasters have become more frequent; many rivers continue to be polluted, and the sky in major cities has been covered in a layer of fine dust smog on many days. Meanwhile, green development has been becoming a mandatory trend. These intertwined challenges require higher levels of operational capacity and action.

Urbanisation in Viet Nam is gathering pace, but it also brings a host of challenges, including overloaded infrastructure, environmental pollution, heightened disaster risks and climate change. This reality underscores the urgent need to renew thinking and reform planning and governance approaches in urban development.

The recent spell of torrential rain and flooding that swept across the central region and the Central Highlands caused extensive damage. Persistent rainfall, far exceeding safety thresholds, led to rapidly rising floodwaters on already saturated ground, submerging many areas in deep water within a short time.

As a locality frequently hit by natural disasters, Hue City is accelerating the application of science and technology, improving reservoir operation procedures and strengthening early warning capacity, with the aim of building an urban area more resilient to extreme storms and floods.

From late October to November 2025, the cities of Hue and Da Nang have experienced consecutive historic floods, causing two World Cultural Heritage sites, the Complex of Hue Monuments, and Hoi An Ancient Town to be submerged in water for a long time, leading to some serious damages.

The 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) in Belem, Brazil, is entering its most difficult stage, with negotiations running late into the night in an effort to overcome obstacles.

Party General Secretary To Lam received Vincent Clerc, Chief Executive Officer of Denmark’s A.P. Moller – Maersk on November 18 in Ha Noi.

The European Union’s (EU) climate target for 2040 is regarded as a turning point in global efforts to tackle climate change, reaffirming Europe’s commitment to taking the initiative, strengthening cooperation, and pursuing a future in which development is harmonised with the protection of the shared planet.

Deep within Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, a system has been constructed to pump carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the tropical forest canopy as part of a project called AmazonFACE, which aims to simulate the atmospheric conditions predicted for the future.

The European Union (EU) is racing against time to adopt its new climate target ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), scheduled for this November.

A research project on the indigenous knowledge of the Ha Nhi ethnic group (Lao Cai) published by UNESCO provides compelling evidence of the close link between cultural heritage and climate action.

A group of finance ministers from 35 countries has recently proposed increasing global climate finance to 1.3 trillion USD per year. This is a key demand of developing nations ahead of the COP30 climate conference, scheduled to take place in Brazil this November.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son highlighted the fundamental role of energy in promoting peace and development, and equity in his remarks at the first plenary session of the 8th Russian Energy Week International Forum held in Moscow from October 15 to 17.

The National Strategy for Green Growth for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision extending to 2050 and endorsed by the Prime Minister, is among Viet Nam’s efforts to maintain growth while pursuing a green economic development model aimed at conserving natural resources, the environment, and climate change.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed Dispatch No. 185/CD-TTg calling for urgent action to remedy the aftermath of Typhoon Bualoi and subsequent floods.

Typhoon Matmo is moving into the East Sea/ South China Sea and is expected to intensify in the coming days, bringing the risk of rough seas, heavy rains and flooding across northern and north-central Viet Nam.