Vietnam Economic Times September 14 2026

Dear readers,

According to NASA, ozone is the combination of three oxygen atoms into a single molecule (O3). It is a gas produced naturally in the stratosphere, where it strongly absorbs incoming UV radiation. But as stratospheric ozone decreases, UV radiation is allowed to pass through, and exposure at the Earth’s surface increases.

Protecting the ozone layer is, therefore, not just the individual responsibility of each country or international organization but an important part of the collective global effort to protect the environment and respond to climate change.

On October 15, 2016, in Kigali, Rwanda, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol adopted the Kigali Amendment to control and phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol, a landmark international treaty established to protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances and which entered into force on January 1, 1989. The amendment aims to prevent an additional 0.5°C increase in global temperatures by the end of this century, contributing to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global climate change.

The Kigali Amendment officially entered into force on January 1, 2019, and has since been ratified by nearly 88 per cent of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, including Vietnam, which ratified it on September 4, 2019, under Government Resolution No. 64/NQ-CP.

Under the Kigali Amendment, Parties to the Montreal Protocol have committed to gradually reducing the production and consumption of HFCs, substances with high global warming potential. The ozone layer, located in the Earth’s stratosphere, acts as a protective atmospheric shield, blocking up to 99 per cent of harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and thereby protecting the Earth’s surface and living organisms from dangerous exposure.

Overall, the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol laid the foundation for protecting the ozone layer, while the Kigali Amendment also delivers significant benefits in limiting global warming.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Kigali Amendment, and in the spirit of Ozone Protection Week, from September 14-20, initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and in celebration of the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer on September 16, Tap chi Kinh te Viet Nam / Vietnam Economic Times / VnEconomy, in coordination with the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, hosted a roundtable discussion on September 14 entitled “Global Action for a Cooler Planet.”

Policymakers, experts, scholars, and scientists exchanged views on the achievements, challenges, and even bottlenecks in the collective global effort, as well as in Vietnam, during implementing international agreements to protect the ozone layer, analyzed the issues arising along the journey towards sustainable cooling in the future, and studied the opportunities for Vietnam to develop a green economy from this journey.

The most important messages from the roundtable discussion were to reduce the demand for cooling devices right from their planning and design and to develop green spaces. When cooling is necessary, energy-efficient equipment and climate-friendly refrigerants should be used. The effective management of refrigerant lifecycles must be promoted, and the participation of regulatory agencies, the scientific community, businesses, and the public enhanced to strengthen the journey to sustainable cooling while joining hands for a cooler planet.

The key message from the discussion was clear: reduce demand for cooling from the outset through urban planning, building design, and the development of green spaces; when cooling is needed, use energy-efficient equipment and climate-friendly refrigerants; promote effective environmental management of refrigerants throughout their lifecycle to limit emissions; strengthen the participation of regulators, the scientific community, businesses, and the public in advancing sustainable cooling; and work together for a cooler, healthier planet.

Responding to “Global Action for a Cooler Planet” is also an opportunity for Vietnam’s refrigeration industry to implement green transformation in efforts to meet the cooling needs of residential areas, both urban and rural, industrial parks, and logistics cold storage service providers.

To amplify the outcomes of the roundtable discussion and to contribute significantly to the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, our Cover Story in this edition focuses on “The Journey Towards Sustainable Cooling and Vietnam’s Action.”

Warmest regards

Dr. CHU VAN LAM
CHAIRMAN OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD