HCM CITY — Authorities in HCM City and Osaka in Japan yesterday vowed to promote cooperation among the two localities in low-carbon city development at a meeting held in HCM City.

Speaking at the Mayor’s Policy on Low Carbon City Development conference, Huỳnh Cách Mạng, vice chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said Osaka had many effective solutions on the environment, climate change adaptation, water management and solid waste classification at the source. 

Osaka has provided HCM City with environmental consultancy services and solutions such as water management techniques, classification of solid waste at the source, and response to climate change. 

Mạng also sent his condolences to the Japanese people, especially the people and authorities of Osaka affected by the recent typhoon Jebi.

Mạng praised the investors of Osaka who have chosen the environment as a priority in its work with HCM City, saying that he hopes the two sides will also cooperate in climate change adaptation and flood prevention.

He encouraged enterprises from Osaka to invest in HCM City’s healthcare, transportation, high-quality human resources, and smart city activities, and to help raise public awareness about global warming.
At the same time, the two cities will continue the annual policy dialogue at mayor level.

Seigo Tanaka, deputy mayor of Osaka, thanked HCM City authorities for the condolences about the recent natural disaster in Japan, which he attributed to climate change.

The vice chairman of HCM City People’s Committee, Huỳnh Cách Mạng (right), presents gifts to Osaka Deputy Mayor Seigo Tanaka at the Mayor’s Policy on Low Carbon City Development conference held yesterday in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo

Việt Nam and Japan, as well as HCM City and Osaka, have many similarities in culture and geography, and both face subsidence, inundation and salinity intrusion. 

The Osaka Deputy Mayor also said he hoped HCM City would attend the G20 meeting on climate change in Osaka in June next year.

HCM City and Osaka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in low-carbon city development in 2013. 

Under the MoU, which has been extended to 2021, the two cities have stepped up cooperation in building a low-carbon society in HCM City.

The two cities have organised various dialogues and meetings to promote public-private partnerships (PPP) to realise the plan.

Under the Paris Climate Change Agreement, between 2021 and 2030, Việt Nam has committed to reduce 8 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, or nearly 62 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, with only domestic support, and to cut emissions by 25 per cent with global support in the fields of energy, transport, agriculture and waste. 

Under the greenhouse gas emission scenario, Việt Nam is expected to emit 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2018, 500 million tonnes by 2020, 600 million tonnes by 2025, and 800 million tonnes by 2030, according to MONRE.

HCM City now emits 38.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, accounting for nearly 13 per cent of the country’s total, the ministry said.

By 2025, the country wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent, increase use of renewable energy to 44 per cent, and increase forest coverage by more than 50 per cent. — VNS