The work of Nhien and other civil society players — including those arrested — is credited with having paved the way for a $15.5 billion investment package to help Vietnam reach its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050, the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
Only a few JETP supporter nations have expressed concerns about the arrests, and even then they haven’t tied funding to the release of the individuals.
At the same time, Vietnam is involved in the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), a separate Japan-led climate initiative that critics say could slow decarbonization efforts, raising questions about the nature of the transition Hanoi is embarking on.
With Japan’s help, is Vietnam headed for a flawed energy transition?
The Japan Times, 25/03/24
Featured image: The BIM wind power project in a salt field in Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam © Japan International Cooperation Agency
