During the opening session of the Autumn Economic Forum 2025, which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on November 26 morning, with the theme "Green Transition in the Digital Era," Ms. Pauline Tamesis, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, emphasized that "in the ten years since the Paris Agreement was adopted, renewable energy technologies have undergone a remarkable transformation, paving the way for a rapid and widespread shift from energy systems dominated by fossil fuels to homegrown, low-cost renewables."
According to Ms. Pauline Tamesis, the biggest challenge today is to connect the two transformations — green and digital transformations, into a "dual transition," which is considered as a simultaneous shift toward a green and digitally enabled economy.
"These two transitions reinforce, shape, and increasingly depend on one another. We are already witnessing green transition and climate action powered by digital technologies that improve climate monitoring, resource efficiency, and energy management. At the same time, digital transformation must be powered by clean, sustainable energy," Ms. Pauline Tamesis said.
"Countries that align climate ambition with national innovation are strengthening competitiveness, reducing vulnerabilities, attracting investment, and creating high-quality jobs. For Vietnam, this twin transition represents major strategic opportunities to sustain high growth, deepen resilience, and move up global value chains," she went on.
She highlighted that climate action is changing rapidly due to advanced data systems and artificial intelligence.
"These tools enable more accurate climate modelling and improve disaster preparedness through stronger early-warning systems — especially relevant for Vietnam, which is highly vulnerable to climate change. Recent estimates suggest losses of up to 3.2% of GDP. Enhanced early-warning systems for storms, floods, and landslides can significantly reduce these costs," she told the forum.
According to Ms. Pauline Tamesis, to advance the vision of accelerating the green transition and leveraging digital technologies as dual engines for inclusive and sustainable growth in Vietnam, the UN, together with the Vietnamese Government, undertook a macro-modeling exercise. "This modeling measured the impacts of government investments in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and social sectors — and assessed their effects on GDP growth, poverty rates, and CO₂ emissions," she said.
She highlighted that investing in renewable energy would likely help Vietnam achieve its renewable energy targets, reduce CO₂ emissions, improve air quality, and support economic growth.
However, according to her, given the scale of investment required, public debt could surge if these investments are financed primarily by the government.
She noted that investing in human capital and energy-efficient infrastructure generates positive economic and social effects. These investments drive GDP growth. The study shows that the GDP-growth benefits of investing in people and green infrastructure are greater than the potential increase in government debt. It also finds that investing in ICT has a positive effect on GDP, reinforces recent gains, and contributes meaningfully to poverty reduction, Ms. Pauline Tamesis remarked.
She further recommended that as Vietnam rapidly approaches upper-middle-income status, it will need to increasingly rely on domestic resources and private capital to finance its development needs. With a growing economy, the country can enhance tax revenue collection and progressiveness, while adopting innovative and blended financing models.
According to her, reforming Vietnam's domestic capital market is also essential for attracting international capital and channeling domestic savings into digital and green sectors.
Google translate