The second edition of the annual Net Zero Challenge contest to seek technological solutions to address climate change began in Ho Chi Minh City on July 16.
The annual Net Zero Challenge contest seeks to find technological solutions for climate change in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The second edition of the annual Net Zero Challenge contest to seek technological solutions to address climate change began in Ho Chi Minh City on July 16.
With prize money of 15 billion VND (630,000), it is open to Vietnamese and foreign startups, research teams, and non-profits working in climate technologies.
Entities whose solutions have been commercialised in other nations but want them piloted in Vietnam are also encouraged to join.
The contest will have three main fields: renewable energy and carbon neutrality, food systems and sustainable agriculture and circular economy and waste management.
Contestants will be asked to develop a product that has the potential to be commercialised or replicated in the country.
The best solutions will be trialled and introduced to investment funds, policymakers and climate change alliances.
Winners can receive an investment of 100,000 USD from Sopoong Ventures and Touchstone Partners venture capital companies, and prize money of 200 million VND (7,835 USD) from the German Corporation for International Cooperation.
The submission deadline is September 15, and nine outstanding teams will enter the final round to be held in November.
This year's contest aims to establish an open, innovative platform to connect entities in climate technologies and promote green technology and green capital among businesses.
Last year the contest received over 100 applicants from 45 countries and 200 others from Vietnam.
The three winners were Vietnames🃏e battery startup Alterno for its thermal energy storage solution using sand battery technology, Forte Biotech with a tester to detect diseases in prawn, and AirX Carbon with a plastic replacement produced from biowaste./.
Vietnamese businesses need to proactively apply science and technology, as well as intellectual property as a lever in their development strategy to promote production in a green and environmentally friendly direction, said Luu Hoang Long, Director of the Department of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
France is ready to work with Vietnam to promote cooperative activities in the field of green development and reducing net emissions by providing advanced technical solutions, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet said on June 6.
Vietnamese airlines have worked hard to implement the net zero emission targets by using new generation aircraft in their operation, which are more environmentally friendly thanks to advanced technologies.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
