The Hanoitimes - Vietnam is preparing to further enhance its green credentials and competitiveness o­n the world stage by joining the global carbon market after 2020.

The move, which underlines the government's commitment to pursuing green growth and sustainable development, will help support a global climate change initiative and allow Vietnam to profit from environmental restraint.

Created under the Kyoto Protocol, the carbon market enables the trading of carbon emission allowances between developed countries, which have higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions than permitted; and developing countries, which have lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than permitted.

It was brought in to encourage countries and companies to limit their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Speaking at a workshop in Hanoi yesterday, Director of the Institute of Strategy, and Policy o­n Natural Resources and Environment, Nguyen Van Tai said the carbon market is believed to be a tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by bringing economic benefit to the countries participating.

Vietnam is scheduled to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8-10% during 2011-20 compared to 2010, under the National Strategy o­n Green Growth approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in September.

Nguyen Khac Hieu, deputy head of the ministry's Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, said that when participating in the global carbon market, Vietnam will take opportunities to develop the national economy in the direction of low carbon, co-operating with the international community to mitigate climate change and protect the global eco-system.

Meanwhile, Institute Director Tai said Vietnam's post-2020 carbon strategy will be to set up Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action and perfect legal frameworks for carbon trading activities.

In a related move, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has proposed a project to manage greenhouse gas emissions and carbon credit trading under international regulations, Hieu said. If approved, Vietnam will compile a periodical report about greenhouse gas emissions every two years, Hieu said.

The report is expected to be built based o­n results from the soon-to-be-established National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory System, Hieu said.

Adding: "So, we will be able to report to the world about the country's level of greenhouse gas emissions from the beginning of 2014."

Vietnam signed the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Convention o­n Climate Change in 1998 and ratified it in 2002.

According to Tai, Vietnam has operated Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as o­ne of its preparatory steps to participating in the global carbon market.

CDM is o­ne of three flexible mechanisms from the Kyoto Protocol, Tai said.

For the developing countries, it helps them achieve sustainable development in line with the ultimate objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention o­n Climate Change, he said.

The country now has 164 CDM initiatives, making it the fourth highest nation in the world for registered projects, he said.

According to Hieu, the CDM projects include Rang Dong Oil Field Associated Gas Recovery, Landfill Gas Recovery in Dong Thanh, Wind power in Binh Thuan Province and Cao Phong Reforestation.

The Kyoto Protocol under the UN Framework Convention o­n Climate Change comprises of 37 developed countries aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% under the first phase between 2005-12.