Japanese organisations and localities have been actively supporting Da Nang in implementing environmental protection programmes and the project "Building Da Nang into an Environmentally Friendly City" for the 2021-2030 period.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Da Nang signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Environment of Sakai City on boosting cooperation in building a carbon-neutral model under the witness of Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Ngo Trinh Ha (first left) and Vice Mayor of Sakai City (second, right) in November 2024. Photo: the Working Delegation

During his visit to Japan on November 11, 2024, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Le Quang Nam witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on boosting cooperation in building a carbon-neutral model between the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Da Nang and the Department of Environment of Japan’s Sakai City.

During the construction and development of Da Nang, a number of Japanese organisations and localities have carried out many environmental protection programmes through ODA-funded projects or technical experience sharing. Included are projects on improving the water environment of Da Nang (funded and implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency - JICA and Nippon Koei Company; low-cost wastewater treatment system (Metawater Company and Kitakyushu University); low-carbon city model (Kanso Technos and Newjec comapnies); wastewater and solid waste treatment (JFE Group); feasibility study of a project to save energy by using simple environmental monitoring equipment (Osumi Company and Nippon Koei Company); recycling waste from the Da Nang Livestock and Poultry Processing Centre into liquid fertilizer for clean agriculture in Da Nang (Chikujo Town); and improving the capacity of managing hygiene and quality of aquatic products in Viet Nam (Kushiro City).

Specifically, JICA and Yokohama City have actively supported Da Nang in environmental protection, especially sharing experience and techniques drawn from Yokohama City, a typical environmentally friendly city of Japan, in the process of implementing the project "Building Da Nang into an Environmentally Friendly City" during the 2008-2020 and 2021-2030 periods.

Notably, Da Nang and Yokohama City has successfully organised 12 editions of the Da Nang Urban Development Forum since 2014. In particular, based on the strength of urban development of Japan's second largest city, Yokohama has shared its experience in urban planning and development management with the central beach city of Da Nang.

In addition, Yokohama City has proposed to JICA and the Japanese Government to support Da Nang with funding for research and implementation of environmental protection projects such as solid waste management to promote classification and recycling in Da Nang; water environment improvement at the Tho Quang Fishing Port and Wharf; saving energy with simple measurement technology; and coordinating to find funding sources to conduct research on the project to develop an environmental monitoring system in Da Nang.

In May 2024, based on the proposal of the Japan - Viet Nam Friendship Association of Sakai City and the Department of Environment of Sakai City, Da Nang and Sakai agreed to build a carbon neutral city. The project was approved by the Japanese Ministry of Environment for a 3-year funding package from 2025-2028.

Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quang Vinh said that the goal of the project is to improve the energy efficiency of Da Nang ports and industrial parks, and at the same time, promote the use of renewable energy and contribute to the realisation of a carbon neutral society.

The project will focus on surveying and considering solutions towards realising a carbon neutral port (CNP) such as energy conversion for ship refueling operations, and electrification of cargo handling equipment (forklifts) at the Tien Sa Port.

Additionally, the project will promote energy saving and renewable energy in industrial zones through the use of energy management systems (EMS), high-efficiency air conditioning, and rooftop solar power combined with battery storage at factories and warehouses in the Lien Chieu Industrial Park and expanded Hoa Khanh Industrial Park.

Under the project, Sakai City will coordinate with the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Japanese Business Association to organise a workshop to connect businesses on carbon neutral initiatives under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM). Through this project, Da Nang hopes to receive experience and technical support from Sakai City in reducing carbon emissions and applying clean and new energy sources in industrial parks, seaports in the city.

Reporting by CAO MINH - Translating by M.DUNG