Vietnam Unveils Plan to Phase Out Ozone-Damaging Chemicals

Following the ratification of Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in 1994 and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2019, the Vietnamese Government has promulgated the National Plan on Management and Elimination of Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) and GHG controlled substances on 11 June 2024. This plan aims to support the implementation of the Environment Protection Law and the Government Decree 06/2022/ND-CP which stipulates GHG emission reduction and ozone layer protection.

To achieve the primary goal of cutting 11,2 million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions by 2045 through affective management and depletion of chemicals that destroy the earth’s protective ozone layer in alignment with Montreal Protocol, four specific goals were identified as below:

• Managing and phasing-out controlled substances: Implement the commitment on phasing out the production, importation, temporarily import, re-export and consumption of the following controlled ozone depleting substances: Bromochloromethane, CTC (Carbon Tetrachloride), CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons), Halon, HBFCs (Hydrobromofluorocarbons), Methyl Chloroform and HCFC-141b (Hydrochlorofluorocarbon-141b) and HCFC-141b pre-mixed in polyol. Methyl bromide is only allowed to import for sterilisation and quarantine control of export goods. Importation and exportation activities of other HCFCs will be ceased from 2040. In addition, from 2045 onward, the country will progressively phase down HFC use, maintaining at 20% of the basic consumption level of 2045.
• Managing products and devices which used HCFCs and HFCs in accordance with its Global Warming Potential (GWP) value– the ratio of the warming caused by a substance to the warming caused by a similar mass of carbon dioxide: Phasing down the production and importation of goods and equipment using controlled substances with high GWP will follow a schedule specified in Section III of the Plan. By 2030, it is targeted that the produced or imported equipment which uses controlled substances should achieve an average energy efficiency of 50% higher than the level of 2022.
• The life cycle Management of controlled substances: Technical staff who are responsible for installing, operating, maintaining and repairing products and devices containing controlled substances should possess the appropriate certificate. The process of collecting, storing, transporting, reusing and recycling of controlled substances is required to meet regulations. In case of being non-compliant with technical requirements, recycled substances should be eliminated.
• Approaching sustainable cooling: Resilience requirements for addressing urban heat island effect and extreme hot weather should be studied and integrated into urban development programmes, action plans to respond to climate change at national and provincial levels as well as sectoral development plans. Sustainable cooling activities are planned to be implemented in cities of Special Urban Grade, Urban Grade -I and Urban Grade-II. Newly constructed buildings are targeted to achieve green building certification, energy efficient building certification in design, construction and operation. Sustainable cooling models and cooling service provision models are to be introduced and replicated at urban and residential areas, commercial and office buildings and at public buildings as well.  

Achieving the Goals: The plan identifies six key strategies to achieve its ambitious goals. These include developing effective policies, building technical expertise, promoting research and development of new technologies, raising public awareness, fostering international cooperation, and implementing robust monitoring and evaluation processes.

The Road to a Greener Future: Scientific research and technology transfer are crucial for adopting more eco-friendly alternatives with lower GWPs (Global Warming Potential). By successfully implementing this plan, Vietnam can significantly reduce its environmental impact and contribute to a greener future.