Hanoi has officially launched a tree planting project at a ceremony held this week in the outlying district of Me Linh to achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

The capital city has thus become the first on the carbon-neutral tree planting journey to Net Zero, with a total budget of VND15 billion (US$632,110) in a five-year project between 2023-2027, as part of Vietnam's efforts to meet its commitments made at the 26th United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP26). 

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and delegates kick off the tree planting project towards Net Zero. Photo: Danviet

At the kick-off ceremony at the national relic of Hai Ba Trung Temple in Me Linh District, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and Hanoi planted the first tree of the project.

At the event, more than 1,000 mature trees worth nearly VND1.5 billion ($63,038) were delivered to the district. Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh said that by choosing Hanoi as the first destination for the project, the organizer hopes that from the heart of the country, the tree-planting movement will spread to many other locations in Vietnam to achieve net-zero carbon neutrality by 2050.

Delegates grow trees at the national special relic of Hai Ba Trung Temple in Hanoi’s suburban district of Me Linh.

"Besides, the Hai Ba Trung Temple, a national treasure, has embodied patriotism and the spirit of national defense for thousands of years. Today, joining hands to protect the environment also contributes to protecting the country from the effects of climate change towards a greener and more sustainable country," Thanh said.

He added that the tree-planting activities to achieve net-zero emissions would be carried out with key directions, including research cooperation with domestic and foreign experts and consultants, raising awareness of net zero, and spreading the love for nature and trees in the community.

Youth union members enthusiastically participate in planting trees to contribute to environmental protection, improving the living environment in the first "green milestone" of the project.

Earlier, the Hanoi People's Committee on February 21 launched the campaign to plant one billion trees in the city in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The tree-planting festival is an annual campaign in Vietnam, and this year each locality has pledged to plant around one million trees. Hanoi planted more than 400,000 trees during the last week of February.