Towards finalizing National Blue Carbon Action Roadmap
The National Blue Carbon Action Roadmap is expected to concrete Viet Nam's priorities to mobilize international financial resources.
On September 23, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held the Second Leadership Board Meeting of the Viet Nam National Blue Carbon Action Partnership (NBCAP). The meeting focused on six priority action areas for 2026-2030 and discussions on solutions to mobilize green investment from financial institutions and the private sector.
Supported by the Embassy of the United Kingdom and the World Economic Forum (WEF), the meeting marked NBCAP’s strategic shift from laying the groundwork to on-the-ground implementation and mobilizing investment flows. Dr. Vu Duc Dam Quang, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department and Deputy Head of the NBCAP Viet Nam Standing Group, chaired the meeting.
6 priority action areas for 2026-2030
In his opening remarks, Dr. Vu Duc Dam Quang, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department, said the second Working Group meeting marked NBCAP’s transition from laying the groundwork to focused implementation.
“The draft National Action Roadmap will help identify priorities and provide a basis for translating them into concrete programs, while connecting projects with appropriate resources and partners based on Viet Nam’s development priorities,” Dr. Quang said.
Accordingly, the draft roadmap includes six priority action areas: policy and governance; ecosystem conservation and restoration; finance and investment; science, data and Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems; the private sector and sustainable livelihoods; and capacity building and communications.
Blue carbon ecosystems, including mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coastal tidal flats, play a vital role in protecting coastlines and conserving biodiversity.
During 2026-2027, Viet Nam is expected to focus on building the institutional, data and technical standards framework, as well as a blue taxonomy. This will provide a foundation for implementing initiatives while facilitating the mobilization of resources from the public and private sectors and development partners.
By 2030, Viet Nam aims to establish integrated management of blue carbon ecosystems and gradually incorporate these ecosystems into its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and national climate change targets, contributing to sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities.
However, managing and developing these ecosystems involves multiple sectors, fields and levels of government, requiring coordinated efforts in policy, science, finance and local implementation. The National Action Roadmap is therefore being developed to identify priorities and clarify the conditions and resources needed for implementation.
Unlocking capital flows: Turning initiatives into investment projects
A key focus of the meeting was a dialogue among government agencies, development partners, financial institutions and the private sector on mobilizing investment for blue carbon. Participants discussed the conditions needed to develop blue carbon initiatives into investment-ready projects, including policy frameworks, data, technical standards, project preparation capacity and appropriate financial mechanisms.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Viet Nam Francesca Nardini emphasized that the roadmap should serve as a national framework for action, ensuring that investment and technical assistance are aligned with priorities identified by Viet Nam.
She said UNDP would continue working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and its partners to translate the potential of blue carbon into coordinated, evidence-based actions capable of attracting investment.
Fergus McBean, a representative of the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Viet Nam, commended the partners’ efforts in developing the National Action Roadmap on blue carbon. He said that strengthening institutions and establishing transparent supporting policies would help build confidence, attract private-sector participation, and support Viet Nam in achieving its climate action and sustainable development goals.
From a similar perspective, experience from the BCAP network, including Indonesia and the Philippines, shows that a consistent action roadmap and a clear investment framework can facilitate investment and the implementation of blue carbon initiatives.
Following the meeting, the draft roadmap will be further finalized and submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s leadership for consideration and official issuance. In parallel, NBCAP will work with its partners to translate the priority actions into practice, creating a pipeline of potential investment opportunities that can be scaled up nationwide.
The draft National Action Roadmap on blue carbon is the result of field assessments, data collection and extensive consultations through two major workshops held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in September 2026.
Phuong Linh