On December 10th, 2023, the Viet Nam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and the IKI Interface project, hosted a dynamic side event at the Viet Nam Pavilion during COP28. This event, titled “Nature-based solutions: achieving climate targets and sustainable agriculture in Viet Nam,” brought together around 30 participants from various countries, organizations, and media outlets.
The main objective of the dialogue was to:
- Share knowledge and best practices: The event focused on the implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS) in Viet Nam’s agricultural sector, particularly climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) models. The aim was to equip local farmers with practical tools to enhance their productivity while aligning with Viet Nam’s climate action commitments.
- Promote NbS globally: The discussion also aimed to scale up the promotion of NbS not only within Viet Nam but across the world. This involved engaging government officials, development partners, and all relevant stakeholders in a collaborative effort.
©Vu Thi Bich Hop/GIZ
Key Insights and Discussions:
- Fergus Sinclair, Chief Scientist at the World Agroforestry (ICRAF), provided a captivating presentation showcasing the adaptation and mitigation benefits of CSA and EbA models implemented in Ha Tinh province, Viet Nam in the context of the IKI Interface project. His insights focused on practical solutions, valuable experiences, and important lessons learned that can be actively incorporated into future NbS development in Viet Nam. Dr. Sinclair emphasized, “Agroecological principles and practices, along with other approaches that work with natural processes, support food security, nutrition, health and well-being, livelihoods and biodiversity, sustainability and ecosystem services.”
- A diverse panel discussion featuring Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hop (Director of the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development), Dr. Tran Dai Nghia (Chief of Economic Environment Sector at the Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development Strategies and Police), Ms. Stephanie Heiland (Head of Sector Project Agriculture, GIZ), and Ms. Dada Bacudo (Senior Advisor, Food Systems, COP28 Presidency of the UAE) provided valuable perspectives on the opportunities and challenges associated with implementing NbS to achieve Viet Nam’s climate and biodiversity targets and foster sustainable development in its agricultural sector. Dr. Tran Dai Nghia highlighted, “The Vietnamese government has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which includes NbS as a key measure to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change in the country. The private sector has also actively invested in several NbS projects within Viet Nam.”
Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hop, Director of Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) introduced the thematic discussion to the attendees and moderated the panel discussion
©Vu Thi Bich Hop/GIZ
The diverse expertise and insightful discussions from speakers with varied backgrounds and roles enriched the dialogue and yielded valuable takeaways. One of the key takeaways was the identification of strategic solutions for further developing and upscaling NbS in Viet Nam and beyond. Ms. Dada Bacudo emphasized, “This Side Event is particularly timely and relevant given the focus on Agriculture and Food Systems at COP28.”
