According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Vietnam’s Human Development Index (HDI) was 0.703 in 2021, almost equal to the 2019 result of 0.704. In the global HDI rankings, Vietnam climbed two places, from 117th out of 189 countries in 2019 to 115th out of 191 countries in 2021. Its Gender Inequality Index (GII) continued to improve last year, reaching 0.296 and ranking 71st out of 170 countries. The UNDP said Vietnam will face many challenges in the future, such as climate change and economic development depending on global growth.
The challenge for Vietnam right now is to both achieve its goal of joining the group of middle- and high-income countries and meet its emissions reduction commitments. To overcome the challenge, it needs a more specific and drastic plan, taking advantage of resources from the non-State sector and ensuring the rights of people affected by a green transition.
On July 18, at a meeting with Mr. Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank (WB) Executive Director, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the bank continue to support Vietnam in climate change adaptation, with a safe and flexible response including reductions in carbon and methane emissions in agriculture and the introduction of policies to build an independent and self-reliant economy.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) signed an MOU on June 8 on cooperation to reduce pollution and climate change in the Mekong Delta and to help Vietnam accelerate its transition to clean energy. The two sides will pursue common development goals such as reducing plastic waste and other types of pollution, improving solid waste management, reducing emissions in agriculture, and promoting the development and deployment of renewable energy at the central level and in urban areas.