The Vietnam Green Building Week 2023 aims to promote dialogue and multidimensional cooperation to facilitate green practices in the construction sector, according to Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tuong Van.

He made the remark at the event, which is being held in various locations across Vietnam, to highlight the green transformation of the construction industry, with the main activities scheduled for September 27-28 in the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City.

"Vietnam has 300 certified green buildings with a total floor area of 7 million square meters. However, the number is still modest compared to the number of construction projects in the country and its potential and demand for economical and efficient use of energy and natural resources," Van said.

Green buildings, sustainable development and climate change adaptation are important issues in the construction and urban development sector, the deputy minister added, referring to policies and solutions to promote the development of green buildings.

Vietnam Lotus Village project is a green ecological urban area developed by Phuc Khang Green Building Developer. Photo courtesy of the company

With the theme "Developing Green Buildings to Promote Green Transformation in the Construction Industry: Opportunity and Challenge", the event is expected to promote green buildings in urbanization for the benefit of the people, their future generations and the environment, Deputy Minister Van stressed.

According to Duong Duc Tuan, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, urbanization in the capital has been quite fast in recent years. The mushrooming of high-rise buildings has brought with it the downside of urbanization.

"The main goal of green buildings is to preserve and protect the environment, to create a living environment in harmony with nature. Hanoi is different from other cities in the world because 70% of the total natural land area is reserved for green spaces to maintain the city's ecological balance, regulate the climate, reduce pollution and protect the environment," Tuan said.

He stressed that the important and long-term goal for Hanoi is to preserve the "green lungs" in parallel with the process of implementing "green buildings" through synchronized solutions.

Green buildings have been around the world since the 1990s. They have become a construction trend in more than 100 countries and territories. They first appeared in Vietnam in 2005-2010, and the country now ranks 28th in the world in the number of green buildings certified by the US Green Building Council.

Leadvisors Place is one of the certified green buildings in Hanoi. Photo: Cong Hung/ The Hanoi Times

The Vietnam Green Building Week 2023, an annual event organized by the Ministry of Construction (MoC) in response to the World Green Building Week, is expected to help raise awareness among stakeholders to promote green and energy-efficient buildings. It is also a concrete action by Vietnam in the hope of implementing international commitments in responding to climate change and promoting sustainable development.

According to the MoC, the event brings together more than 1,000 policymakers and leading experts from construction companies, leading architects and design professionals, and suppliers of building materials, equipment and technology. In addition to workshops, more than 30 suppliers from Vietnam and the region will showcase building technology, construction materials, and energy-saving and low-emission solutions in an exhibition.

Manufacturers of products used in energy-saving and eco-friendly construction, such as Panasonic, Daikin, Sika, Saint Gobain, and Capital House, will also be present.

Side events will include policy discussions to promote green building development, in-depth seminars and training, field trips, journalism awards for outstanding green building articles, and a student green architecture competition.

At the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that Vietnam, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

As part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in May 2022, the MoC approved the Construction Sector Action Plan on Climate Change Response for 2022-2030, with a vision to 2050, to help implement the COP26 commitments.