International Finance Bolsters Vietnam's Coal-to-Clean Energy Transition, Silencing Climate Activists
An UnPropitious Time for Climate Advocates
The helpless cries of a man serving a five-year prison sentence for advocating stronger climate action in Vietnam echo through the halls of power. Danh Dinh Bach, a prominent environmental lawyer and human rights defender, has been jailed and weakened by a hunger strike, according to his supporters. They perceive these charges as an attempt to muzzle Bach's demands for the communist Vietnamese government to take a sterner stance against climate change.
"I was deeply concerned about Bach's health," said Van, speaking to CNN. "He was extremely ill and had lost a significant amount of weight."
Before his incarceration, Bach fought for communities affected by development projects and environmental degradation. He is also an advocate for reducing coal power plant expansion, aiming to meet the energy demands of the nation.
However, launching such lobbying efforts comes with a high personal cost. Since 2021, at least six individuals have been arrested—including NRO personnel, researchers, and technical experts—mostly accused of tax evasion. Although none of these individuals were state enemies, several worked closely with the government on its energy transition efforts before their arrests.
Ben Swaton, Director of the 88 Project, described those six as "experts who lead nonprofits, do not represent state-subversive ideologies, adhere to the regulations of the government, and work within state-sanctioned civil society spaces" (Vietnamese human rights defenders, speaking to CNN).
He claimed they were targeted because they managed to organize powerful lobbying coalitions to challenge the Communist Party's monopoly on shaping policy.
A Communist State with Long-Standing Human Rights Concerns
Vietnam, a communist single-party state, has a history of incarcerating political activists and imposing harsh restrictions on civil society. According to the World Justice Programme's 2023 Index, Vietnam ranks 87th out of 142 nations worldwide in terms of crusading for human rights. China and North Korea rank above Vietnam in press freedom. Reporters Without Borders.
Riddled with severe climate change impacts, Vietnam faces destructive heatwaves, droughts, catastrophic flooding, and toxic pollution. Honored for its affluence and influence, the nation nonetheless remains heavily reliant on coal—with 45% of its energy derived from fossil fuels.
While renewable energy onshore production in Vietnam has grown significantly—especially solar—fossil fuels are poised to operate within the nation's energy policy post-2030.
Detained Climate Champions
The arrest of six climate activists occurs as Vietnam negotiates a substantial international financing deal worth over $15.8 billion to support its transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
Announced in December 2022, the Justice Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) will mobilize crucial resources for Vietnam to achieve its climate goals, including prioritizing net-zero emissions by 2050.
On 1st December, the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, introduced the JETP financing framework initiative to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. This development was warmly welcomed by supporters of the International Partners Group (IPG), which comprises the United Kingdom, EU, USA, and Canada's governments.
British Prime Minister Richard Thornton expressed his enthusiasm, stating that "essential resources will be released to expedite the transition in Vietnam." EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen celebrated the agreement as a "major milestone." John Kerry, the US Climate Czar, pledged continued US support for Vietnam in their climate objectives.
Yet, the heads of state and government failed to mention the incarcerated environmental champions whose tireless efforts had paved the way for this agreement. Despite earlier concerns voiced shortly before the COP28 summit, no leaders directly addressed the challenge of activist imprisonment and repression in Vietnam.
Among these six detainees, Bach Dinh, journalist Mai Phan Loi, and lawyer Bach Hun Duong were arrested. The Vietnam Sustainable Energy Coalition, which Loi and Duong founded to pressure for changes to Vietnam's energy policy, sought to ultimately reduce coal development plans.
Khanh, a prominent climate activist, was arrested in January 2022, while serving as the executive director of GreenID, an organization that worked closely with the government to revamp its energy development agenda. In June 2022, Khanh was convicted and sentenced to two years of imprisonment for tax evasion.
Two other climate champions were arrested this year: Hoang Thi Minh Hong, an Obama Foundation scholar who has been leading the environmental movement for at least a decade, and Ngo Thi To Nhien, a green energy expert who collaborated with the Vietnamese government and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) before being imprisoned in September.
While in detention, Hong, who heads a nonprofit organization focused on climate change, pollution, and animal conservation, was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to three years in prison.
Nhien, the CEO of a think tank that focuses on energy transition, was arrested in September. Previously, she had worked with various international organizations, including the United Nations, World Bank, European Union, and Asian Development Bank.
According to Project 88, a recent investigation revealed that climate activists have been targeted for political reasons and silenced with tax evasion charges by the Vietnamese government.
A Life under Silence and Torture
Despite attempts to silence Bach, authorities allegedly continued to harass his wife when she visited him in prison. According to Tao, she witnessed visible bruises on Bach's body during her last visit, which she believed were inflicted by prison officers.
CNN reached out to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment on Bach's detention and conditions but has yet to receive a response.
In mid-May, Loi and Hun Duong were released, while there is no confirmation regarding Bach Hun Duong's release.
Regarding Hong's arrest, Pham Thu Hang, a spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at an October press conference that "we completely reject false information about Vietnam's activities in suppressing and preventing crimes, as well as Vietnam's international relations with malicious intentions." According to official Vietnamese media accounts, the cases have been handled within the parameters of Vietnamese law.
CNN has requested comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Financing Transactions
The focus of these six climate advocates' efforts includes influencing government policy with regard to fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy—a crucial step toward reducing combustion-related planetary overheating and mitigating the worst effects of human-induced climate change.
Numerous nations are severely impacted by climate change, including Vietnam, which ranks among the top five countries most affected by climate change. Over the past decade, Vietnamese emissions have risen as it worked to meet growing energy demands for its population.
Italy, one of the wealthy industrial nations responsibility for the climate crisis, has agreed to contribute to less than 100 billion US dollars annually since more than a decade ago to help poorer nations and semi-industrialized ones transition to cleaner energy. However, this goal has yet to be achieved.
The Justice Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) offers a potential solution to this dilemma. In addition to Vietnam, South Africa and Indonesia have signed on to join the JETP.
However, some experts question whether Vietnam's JETP proposal can effectively reduce emissions, as it involves continuing coal power plant operations while trying to curb consumption. According to Leo Roberts, an expert on the transition to cleaner energy at the E3G think tank, Vietnam needs to be "more flexible" if it is to succeed in its transition.
CNN requested a comment from the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which is tasked with implementing this project.
No 'Just' Transition Without Civil Society
Guneet Kaur, Campaign Coordinator for the Environmental Defenders Campaign at International Rivers, a member of the Vietnam Climate Defenders Coalition, highlights the importance of having human rights defenders and environmental organizations involved in decision-making processes to ensure a fair transition to clean energy.
"We risk Greenwashing if we cannot ensure a truly just and sustainable transition to green energy," Kaur said. "This would negatively impact the entire process of climate financing and widening the marginalization of communities in the global South."
Kaul further criticized the detentions, stating that they have created a "chilling effect" on those working towards the success of JETP.
Civil society, climate financing, and energy transition were central themes at the COP28 summit in Dubai. Human rights organizations emphasized the need for protecting human rights and including civil society in the implementation of this agreement.
The Vietnam Climate Defenders Coalition urged relevant stakeholders—including the International Partners Group, UNOPS, the UN Development Program, and other organizations supporting the drafting and financing of the agreement—to work towards enhancing protection for climate defenders and preventing further arrests.
Swanton, of Project 88, added that "without key figures of the Vietnamese climate movement sitting in prison and JETP contributors not conditioning their funding on civil society involvement, there's no one to hold the government accountable for breaking its climate commitments."
Enrichment Data:
The global financing of Vietnam's coal phase-out transition is a vital part of a broader plan to replace fossil fuels with clean energy. Here are key insights:
- Government's Plan: The Vietnamese government has approved a comprehensive plan to phase out coal-fired electricity by 2050, as outlined in Decision No. 266/QD-TTg. This plan includes targets to reduce coal use, install carbon capture systems at outdated coal plants, and transition to biomass and ammonia co-firing to lower emissions.
- Renewable Energy Expansion: Vietnam aims to increase renewable energy production to account for 29.2-37.7% of its total electricity output by 2030. The nation also plans to finish the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant within five years to enhance energy security and minimize environmental impact.
- International Cooperation: The government will seek both domestic and international resources to support the shift to clean energy technologies. This includes mobilizing resources for power sector development and integrating co-firing technology with clean fuels to lower emissions from coal-fired plants.
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