On 16 January 2026, at Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park, the kick-off workshop for the activity “Greenhouse Gas Inventory at Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park” was held. This was a part of the Global Eco-Industrial Park Programme in Viet Nam (GEIPP II). The event was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, with financial support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

The workshop brought together representatives from UNIDO, the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, Shinec Joint Stock Company, enterprises operating in Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park, and infrastructure investors and developers from nearly 20 other industrial parks in Hai Phong.

Mandatory GHG Inventory for Major Emitters from 2026

The workshop took place in the context of Viet Nam’s strong implementation of  its COP26 commitments, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. At the same time, the country is preparing to enter the phase in which greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory reporting becomes mandatory for major emitting facilities starting in 2026, in accordance with current legal regulations.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Nguyen Tram Anh, National Project Manager of GEIPP Viet Nam, emphasized: “Greenhouse gas inventory is not only a legal compliance requirement, but also a management tool that enables enterprises to ‘understand themselves’, clearly identify key emission hotspots, and build effective emission reduction roadmaps to enhance competitiveness in global supply chains.”

According to statistics from the Ministry of Finance, Viet Nam currently has 475 industrial parks, of which 324 are operational, with an average occupancy rate of nearly 79%. National GHG inventory data indicate that the energy and industrial sectors are the largest sources of emissions, with industrial parks representing areas of particularly high energy consumption, material use, and production intensity.

In this context, transitioning to the Eco-Industrial Park (EIP) model is considered one of the key solutions to reduce GHG emissions through efficient use of energy and resources, emission reduction at source, industrial symbiosis, increased material reuse, and by-product circularity.

According to Mrs. Tram Anh, implementing GHG inventories at the industrial park level will create a shared data system, helping enterprises avoid navigating increasingly stringent carbon requirements on their own, while supporting the transition toward eco-industrial park and circular economy models.

At the workshop, Mr. Pham Hong Diep, Chairman of Shinec JSC, shared achievements in developing Nam Cau Kien as an eco-industrial park: “To date, Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park has achieved 82% compliance with the International Framework for Eco-Industrial Parks (Version 2.0) under the project supporting the replication of the EIP approach to promote circular economy in Viet Nam, and this could increase to 89%. Recently, at the Vietnam ESG Forum 2025 held in Hanoi, Shinec was recognized among the Top 10 Enterprises for Comprehensive ESG Implementation at the Vietnam ESG Awards 2025.”

He further noted that the park currently lacks only one criterion related to the implementation of annual reporting and public disclosure of emission reduction results.

Regarding this matter, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thinh, Head of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority, stated that from 2026, many enterprises will be required to conduct GHG inventories in connection with their annual environmental protection reporting obligations under the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and the latest guiding circulars.

GHG inventory and reporting are not only for legal compliance, but also serve as a critical data foundation for emission control, prevention of air pollution risks, and enhancement of environmental governance transparency in industrial parks. Under Decision No. 188/2025/QD-UBND and Official Letter 6894/BQL-TNMT, the Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority will act as the focal point for receiving GHG inventory reports and consolidating emission reduction plans from obligated facilities within industrial parks and economic zones for submission to the municipal People’s Committee.

The Authority also informed participants about Directive No. 18/CT-UBND dated 24 December 2025, issued by the Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee on urgent measures to control air pollution across the city.

The Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority acknowledged that the collaboration between Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park and UNIDO in implementing the GHG inventory activity is systematic and well-structured. It also called on enterprises within the park to proactively participate, provide accurate data, strictly comply with emission monitoring and control requirements, and regard this as both a mandatory responsibility and a long-term interest for businesses and the community.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Roadmap for 2026

Under the activity “Implementation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory at Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park” within the Global Eco-Industrial Parks Programme Phase II (GEIPP II), the consulting firm responsible for conducting and preparing the inventory report is Viet Nam Technology Solutions Joint Stock Company (VETS).

Mr. Duong Chi Cong, Team Leader and Lead Auditor of VETS, stated: “According to the roadmap, from January to May 2026, the project will focus on preparing GHG inventory reports for 10 representative enterprises in the industrial park, based on the collection of data on energy, fuel, and material consumption, as well as emission-generating activities in accordance with prescribed methodologies. Enterprise-level inventory results will be consolidated and standardized to develop a park-level GHG inventory report that provides a comprehensive picture of emissions across the industrial park.”

In parallel, the activity will strengthen the capacity of enterprises and the industrial park developer through training and workshops on inventory methodologies, emissions data management, and measurement–reporting–verification (MRV) requirements. GHG inventory data will gradually be integrated into Nam Cau Kien’s online monitoring system to support management, tracking, reporting, and decision-making, moving beyond fragmented enterprise-level reports.

Based on the inventory results, the next phase will support the development of GHG emission reduction strategies and roadmaps for participating enterprises and for the entire industrial park. These will be linked to energy efficiency, cleaner production, industrial symbiosis, and circular economy solutions. This represents a critical shift from “inventory for compliance” to “emissions management for cost optimization and enhanced competitiveness.” The inventory roadmap has been designed in alignment with the national legal framework, under which major emitting facilities are required to conduct periodic GHG inventories and develop emission reduction plans in subsequent phases.

Early implementation of the GHG inventory enables enterprises to proactively prepare data systems, procedures, and human resources to meet legal obligations from 2026 onward, while reducing risks associated with increasingly stringent emission management requirements.

In the long term, the activity aims to standardize GHG inventory processes by sector, providing a foundation for replication in other industrial parks, and creating opportunities to participate in carbon market mechanisms, green finance instruments (such as green bonds), and international support programs. With this approach, the GHG inventory at Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park goes beyond a technical exercise to become a core data platform supporting sustainable development objectives and enhancing the park’s reputation and position in global supply chains.

The kick-off workshop not only marked the official launch of the activity but also reaffirmed Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park’s pioneering role in proactively advancing green transformation, supporting enterprises in responding to emerging market and policy requirements, and contributing to the green growth objectives of Hai Phong City and Viet Nam.

Source: Shinec