Projects that promote low-carbon technology and energy efficiency in commercial and residential buildings will be given top priority for funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) during the next four years.
Other projects that promote investment in renewable energy will also be given priority, including those relating to climate change, biodiversity and land degradation.
These were some of the conclusions reached at the Viet Nam GEF national dialogue workshop yesterday. The meeting concludes in Ha Noi today.
The aim of the talks is to strengthen Viet Nam’s involvement in new GEF projects.
More than 100 participants representing ministries, donors, international organisations and research institutes took part in the talks.
In the next four-year period, Viet Nam’s allocation from total funding will be about US$27.5 million.
This would be used to provide money for climate change projects ($13.89 million), biodiversity ($12.12 million) and land degradation ($1.5 million), said GEF spokesman William Ehlers.
“However, projects coming under the International Waters focal area and the chemicals strategy are still financed on a first come, first serve basis from the GEF’s global package,” he said.
Nguyen Van Tai, from GEF Viet Nam, said the criteria all potential GEF interventions had to meet included generating significant global environmental benefits.
In terms of biodiversity, Viet Nam’s priorities will include conservation in protected marine and wetlands, mainstream conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Kim Thi Thuy Ngoc, also from GEF Viet Nam, said: “For the last GEF4 period, the allocation of funds in Viet Nam changed remarkably from earlier years.”
There was greatly increased funding for solving problems created by persistent organic pollutants, such as some fertilisers. This accounted for half of total funding of nearly $37 million.
The Global Environmental Facility was established in 1991 to help developing countries fund projects and programmes that protect the environment. Viet Nam has participated in 28 regional and global projects.
