Vietnam, Japan energy seminar focuses on efficiency

In addition, Tran Van Thanh, deputy director of Soc Trang Department of Natural Resources and Environment said, meeting the region’s and country’s climate commitments also means reducing emissions from every sector.

Japanese experts from Hiroshima Prefecture in turn introduced state-of-the-art software on management of water supply, technology on wastewater treatment and fuel production from waste.

Smart energy policy utilizing their software, they said, can drive down greenhouse gas emissions quickly and affordably, while stimulating innovation and economic growth.

Alternatively, poorly-designed energy policy, no matter how well-intentioned, can increase pollution, lock-in dirty technologies, waste money, and prevent the country from meeting its climate goals.

Because the energy industry is capital-intensive, and energy infrastructure is built to last for decades, it is crucial to get these policies right the first time, the Japanese experts said.

At the seminar, the experts discussed various types of energy policies and how they can be structured and implemented to serve their intended purpose. It concluded with a highlight handful of real-world examples.