CEO Talks: Policies and solutions to promote green building development (side event of Vietnam green building week 2023)

Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van spoke at the Talks

Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van said that: In recent years, the Party, State and Government of Vietnam have had many guidelines and policies to promote economical and efficient use of energy and resources; protect the environment; reduce greenhouse gas emissions in socio-economic activities, including the construction sector such as Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2022 of the Politburo on "Planning, construction, management and sustainable development of Vietnamese urban areas to 2030, vision to 2045; Action program of the Government to implement Resolution 06-NQ/TW; Resolution 29/NQ-TW dated November 17, 2022 at the 6th Conference of the Central Executive Committee term XIII on promoting industrialization and modernization of the country until 2030, with a vision to 2045 towards green transformation of the economy.

Encouraging the development of energy efficient buildings and green buildings has  stipulated in the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Construction Law 2020 and Decree No. 15/2021/ND-CP of the Government detailing a number of contents on construction investment project management. The Prime Minister has approved the National Action Plan on Green Growth for the period 2021-2030; National strategy on climate change for the period up to 2050; Project on tasks and solutions to implement COP26 results.  The Minister of Construction also issued the Construction Industry Action Plan to respond to climate change for the period 2022-2030, with a vision to 2050 to implement Vietnam's commitments at COP26.

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Tuong Van, green buildings have been developed around the world since the 1990s and have gradually become a trend in construction investment and project operation management in more than 100 countries and territories. In Vietnam, the first green buildings appeared around 2005-2010. After more than 15 years of development, the number of green buildings in Vietnam currently only reaches about 300 projects, with a total area of about 7.2 million m2 of construction floor.

Overview of talks

Besides the advantages and opportunities, the development of green buildings in recent times in Vietnam has also faced many difficulties and challenges:  the impact of the Covid 19 epidemic, capital resources, qualified human resources in project planning, design, construction, and operation management of green buildings; no regulations required for labeling; assessment and certification of green, energy-saving building material products for use in construction projects...

Speaking at the talks, Mr. Duong Duc Tuan emphasized Hanoi's interest in green building management and development. He also said that solutions for green and energy-saving buildings need to be applied in environmental, social, cultural and economic aspects in both of rural and urban areas and all stages of construction. Green and energy-saving buildings development must be associated with green urban areas, green spaces and focused on people and local identity, towards the harmonious development of the natural ecological environment.

Mr. Duong Duc Tuan proposed that the Government and ministries and branches researched legal corridors for green buildings and energy-saving buildings; widely consulted organizations related to the development of green and energy-saving buildings such as the Ministry of Construction, the Association of Architects, the Green Building Council... and other foreign experts. The Ministry of Construction will soon issue a system of regulations, standards, and criteria to guide green building design to support the implementation of design, construction, and operation of green and energy-efficient buildings; provide frameworks of green building criteria and standards based on common criteria and standards of the world and suitable to Vietnamese conditions.

At the talks, delegates also dicussed about the role and potential of green buildings; potential for development and investment in green buildings in Vietnam; predicting the development trend of this field in the world and Vietnam; information about projects, support measures, and specific preferential policies for green buildings in Vietnam.

Authorized by the leaders of the Ministry of Construction, Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment Vu Ngoc Anh concluded the talks and highly appreciated the efforts of ministries, branches, localities, agencies, domestic and international organizations and businesses who have actively accompanied the development of green buildings in recent years.

Director Vu Ngoc Anh hopes that in the coming time, the Ministry of Construction will continue to receive cooperation, support and effectively implement activities to promote the development of green buildings and low and zero emissions works in achieving the national net zero emissions target by 2050 that the Government has committed to.

Within the framework of the talks, delegates visited the CAPITAL PALACE Building (a project that achieved LEED Gold Standards for green buildings) and the SAINT GOBAIN Office (a project that achieved LOTUS Certification).