At 11:45 a.m. on November 18, 2025 (local time) in Brazil, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh - Head of the Viet Nam ese delegation to the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) -delivered a statement at the Conference’s High-Level Segment.
A call for stronger commitments and actions
Representing Viet Nam, Deputy Minister Thanh noted that COP30 is taking place as humanity faces increasingly extreme and unpredictable climate change, driving severe and dangerous impacts across the globe.
To achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement, he stressed that countries must “align perception with action” and uphold multilateralism, while significantly strengthening solidarity and cooperation among nations based on the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh - Head of the Vietnamese delegation to the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) - delivers his statement at the High-Level Segment of the Conference. Photo: Chu Huong.With this spirit, Viet Nam put forward four key proposals:
First, developed countries - with their financial, scientific, and technological capacity - must fully honor their responsibilities and adopt stronger commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Second, developed countries must deliver on their climate finance pledges, taking the lead in mobilizing at least USD 300 billion annually, and working toward a pathway of USD 1.3 trillion per year to support developing nations. In particular, urgent steps are needed to rebalance resources between adaptation and mitigation, while significantly increasing grants and concessional financing. Adaptation finance, Viet Nam stressed, must account for at least 50% of total climate finance provided to developing countries.
Third, the expansion and effective implementation of the “Early Warnings for All” initiative must be accelerated to safeguard lives and property as climate-related disasters grow more severe.
Finally, the United Nations must strengthen its role in shaping and enhancing the effectiveness of global governance systems, and in fostering deeper cooperation to address non-traditional security challenges, including climate change.
Viet Nam stands ready to cooperate
Speaking about Viet Nam ’s efforts, Deputy Minister Thanh emphasized that as one of the developing countries most heavily affected by global climate change, Viet Nam has been seriously implementing its international commitments on adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation.
“We remain committed to sustainable development, striking a harmonious balance between economic growth, environmental protection and climate resilience”, he affirmed.
The Vietnamese delegation attending COP30 in Brazil. Photo: Chu Huong. Viet Nam has continued improving its institutional and policy frameworks, gradually establishing a consistent and comprehensive legal foundation for adaptation, mitigation and a just energy transition. New, breakthrough mechanisms are being introduced to drive the green transition and advance the goal of carbon neutrality.
The country is currently developing and piloting a domestic carbon market, alongside allocating emission quotas to major emitters in sectors such as thermal power, cement and steel. Viet Nam is also ready to explore cooperation with international partners under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, ensuring transparency and credibility.
Concluding his speech, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh underscored that only with stronger cooperation and greater collective ambition can countries deliver comprehensive and equitable global climate action in Belém.