Green transition will determine Dong Nai's competitiveness: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Dan

Dong Nai City is currently at a critical juncture in its development, as it is poised to reposition its growth model and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. In this transition, the city is confronted with the pressing need for green development, climate adaptation, and the improvement of urban quality of life.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Dan, Director of the Center of Asian Research on Water (CARE-Rescif) and former Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City).

Regarding this strategic direction, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phuoc Dan, Director of the Center of Asian Research on Water (CARE-Rescif) and former Dean of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City), shared his insights into how Dong Nai can transition from an "industrial hub" to an inter-regional urban model characterized by low emissions, a circular economy, and sustainable growth.

Fundamental changes needed in development governance

* Dong Nai has become Vietnam's 7th city. In your view, what new requirements does this transition impose on the city's growth model and development orientation in the coming period?

- Dong Nai can no longer continue developing with the mindset of a traditional industrial province; it must fundamentally change its approach to development governance.

In the past, many localities focused on expanding industrial parks and attracting projects, addressing environmental issues only on a case-by-case basis as they emerged. However, in its role as a major urban center with strong regional connectivity, Dong Nai needs to shift toward a governance model based on environmental carrying capacity, resource efficiency, quality of life, and climate resilience.

In my view, green transition should not be regarded merely as a task of the environmental sector but must become an "input" criterion for the entire new growth model.

Dong Nai possesses many strategic advantages, including Long Thanh Airport, a system of expressways, ring roads, seaports, logistics infrastructure, and its position as a gateway connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Central Highlands and the South Central Coast. However, these advantages also create significant pressure in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, wastewater, waste, and freight traffic. Without a timely transition, the environmental and carbon costs will be immense in the future.

* You suggest that Dong Nai needs to move from "pollution treatment" to "resource and emission governance." How should this transition be understood?

- For many years, we have addressed environmental issues through an "end-of-pipe" approach, treating pollution only after it has been generated. This approach is no longer appropriate for a large-scale industrial hub such as Dong Nai.

The new mindset must involve management based on resource life cycles and emission flows. This means emissions must be measured from the outset, reduced at the source, reused internally, exchanged as by-products among enterprises through industrial symbiosis, recovered energy, and only then treated the remaining waste.

Dong Nai's net zero emissions plan consists of four stages: a 20% reduction by 2030; a 45% reduction between 2030 and 2035; achieving carbon neutrality between 2035 and 2045; and reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

For example, if wastewater is treated appropriately, it can become a resource for irrigation, cooling systems, road cleaning, or certain production stages. Similarly, the industrial by-products of one enterprise can serve as secondary raw materials for another.

Dong Nai needs to transition from a linear economy to a circular economy. This is a mandatory path if it is to sustain industrial growth while protecting the ecosystem of the Dong Nai River basin.

* In your opinion, what are the most important pillars for Dong Nai to implement its green transformation?

- There are several groups of solutions, but I believe Dong Nai should focus on six main pillars in the immediate future.

First is investment screening based on emission intensity. Dong Nai needs to establish green technical standards and screening mechanisms for new projects, especially in sectors with a high risk of pollution.

Second is the development of eco-industrial parks and industrial symbiosis. Industrial parks must establish symbiotic flows for water, energy, by-products, waste heat, and recycled materials.

Third is the energy transition. Dong Nai needs to promote rooftop solar power, energy efficiency, direct power purchase mechanisms for large energy consumers, and the formation of "green load clusters" within industrial parks.

Fourth is the development of green logistics associated with Long Thanh Airport and the seaport system. Long Thanh should not merely be an airport but must become the nucleus of a low-emission logistics-industrial-service ecosystem.

Fifth is the development of a circular economy in the areas of wastewater, waste, and by-products.

Sixth is digital transformation for green governance.

Historic opportunity to restructure economy

* You just mentioned Long Thanh Airport. In your view, what opportunities and pressures will this airport create for Dong Nai?

- Long Thanh Airport is a historic opportunity for Dong Nai to restructure its economy. If properly planned, this area could help Dong Nai transition from a manufacturing center reliant on low-skilled labor to a high-value hub for logistics, e-commerce, aviation maintenance, cold storage, high-tech industries, and technical services. However, if development is uncontrolled, these advantages could result in traffic congestion, high emissions, housing pressure, urban flooding, and urban sprawl.

Long Thanh Airport is a historic opportunity for Dong Nai to restructure its economy. In the picture: Long Thanh Airport welcomes its first technical flights at the end of 2025.

Therefore, in my view, Dong Nai needs to position Long Thanh as a "green gateway" for the region. This requires logistics to gradually shift toward low emissions, increasing rail and waterway transport, applying digital platforms to optimize transportation, and promoting electric vehicles for short routes. It is encouraging that the city is currently promoting several railway projects to connect the airport.

* Could you share more about blue-green infrastructure and the "sponge city" model? Why do you believe these are suitable for Dong Nai?

- Dong Nai is urbanizing very rapidly. If it continues extensive concretization and expands impervious surfaces, the risks of flooding, urban heat islands, and declining quality of life will increase. Therefore, it must shift from a mindset of "draining water as quickly as possible" to one of "retaining, infiltrating, purifying, and reusing water."

I believe the “sponge city” model is well-suited to Dong Nai. Solutions such as green roofs, permeable squares, rain gardens, detention and retention basins, and riverside green corridors will help prevent flooding while reducing urban heat, improving the microclimate, and enhancing the quality of public spaces.

In my view, areas such as Long Thanh, Bien Hoa, Nhon Trach, and future transit-oriented development corridors need to integrate blue-green infrastructure criteria from the outset rather than viewing them merely as landscaping features added later.

By Hoang Loc – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha