DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY IN THE XXI CENTURY

THE FUTURE OF WORLD AND VIETNAMS ECONOMY

Vo Minh Tap
Ph.D. Candidate, College of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City
tapminhs@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
This article will analyze and clarify the context of developing green technology; activities and solutions which
are using to expand green technology around the world. From that, look into the actual situation about
promoting green technology in Vietnam and solutions oriented to develop green technology in the near future.
Clarification on the above problems of green technology which is considered a strategic priority economic of all
countries, including Vietnam, also answering the question about future of world economy in XXI century.
Key words: green technology, economic, Vietnam and the World, development

1. THE CONTEXT OF GREEN

ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT
In the early XXI century, humanity faces
many challenges, which are greatly
impacts on many areas of social life,
particularly in the economic field the
determiningfactor in national development.
Many issues are set out in the new century.
According to study recently, 80% of the
energy demand worldwide particularly the
fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) are depleted in
the next 60 to 100 years.
Energy needs of the world is increasing
rapidly due to the demand for energy use
and investment in developed and
developing countries, mostly in the new
consumption centers emerging as China,
India,
industrialization
process
in
developing countries while there are still
limiting alternative energy resource, rapid
population growth, making the world oil

demand growing rapidly1. On the other

hand, resource contention issues and
energy security in the world is also make
the global energy problem more difficult to
solve. In order to solving the problem, the
solution was made to develop new, clean
technologies.
Especially the issue of climate change with
the reducing of CO2 emissions in recent
years require increasingly urgent for the
development of clean technology, green
technology. The global economic crisis in
2007 was the explosion of contradictions
mentioned above, it is not only a financial
crisis, but also the energy, food crisis and
the crisis of poor growth mode
sustainability at the global level.

Tap, Vo Minh, Energy security issue of some

regions in Global energy security strategy, The
third international scientific conference
sustainable energy development, Publising
Houese for Science and Technology, Hanoi,
Vietnam, p.55, 2013.

Global economic recession, energy

shortages serious, climate change and its
serious consequences to the economic life human society... all factors that lead to the
development of clean technology.
Development of green technology has
become a urgent needs, as a priority
strategy to cope with the crisis and after the
economic crisis in many countries
According to experts, green development
strategy has become a turning point for the
recovery of the global economy and also a
new impetus to the promotion of global
economic sustainable development. The
United Nations also said that economic
policy is clear development path required
by the global economy in the future.
2. WHAT
IS
THE
TECHNOLOGY?

GREEN

In general, green technology is the

activities aimed at two purposes: (1)
reducing the toxicity of old technology, (2)
creating new technology environmentally
friendly and does not cause more harm to
the environment. Green technology is the
technology used primarily renewable
energy, bio-energy, reducing consumption
of gasoline, oil and reducing CO2
emissions.
The goal of green technology is geared
towards
the
sustainable
economic
development. Green
technology is
considered important technological quality,
not quantity, enhance valid for use not only
enhance the value and money...
The fields of green technology platform
are: clean energy and clean technology,
energy efficiently, reducing the energy
which cause environmental pollution, build

housing with clean material, set

transportation systems and infrastructure
which
are
environmental
friendly,
sustainable agricultural development
3. GREEN TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT IN THE WORLD:
ACTION AND SOLUTIONS
In the context of the post-crisis global
economy, leaders of countries around the
world are trying to find a new growth
impetus for the economy, in order to
quickly overcome the economic downturn,
conversion growth model and restructuring
the economy. New energy field has been
selected as the key to open up an outbreak
period of new economy. U.S. President
Barack Obama regarded the new energy
policy development is an vital means to
revive the U.S. economy. He wanted to
rely on the economic recovery by
development of green energy sources. He
said that any countries move first in the
establishment of a clean energy economy
will take control of the economy in the
twenty-first century2. EU country group is
also a pioneer in developing green
technologies and green economy, in 2013,
they deploy on developed clean technology
and green economy across the EU-27, led
by Germany - the first nation building
green economic strategies in the world.
Germany also made efforts to become a
leading industrial power in the world to use
100% green renewable energy by 2050. In
Asia, China, the country with the biggest
developing economy in the world have
become major players in the green
2

Brack Obama, New energy policy of Brack

Obama, Politique International Journal, No. 125,
2009.

technology revolution. Changhua Wu,

Director of Environmental Organizations
nongovernmental in China think that new
energy is seen as motivating new growth
cycle of the world economy. There are no
doubt about it... Like the changes in
information technology, aerospace and
nuclear bring to the world after last
technological revolution, new energy will
determine future of the world3.
According to SHBC estimates (as of early
2009), the investment for green
development accounted for 14% of total
the stimulus package globally, with a focus
on: building house which use energy
efficiency,
alternative
energy
and
renewable, transport energy saving,
sustainable agricultural development, water
use efficiency.
Besides investments from the stimulus
package of the government, the country
focus on using leverage measures,
particularly carbon taxes and fees,
including the USA, the EU... This will
cause
discharging
emission
more
expensive and will increase the pressure on
polluting industries, encourage investment
and consumer cleaning products. For
example, to encourage energy saving in
transport, many countries are adopting fuel
taxes (such as Poland, Sweden ...); tariff
quota licenses and vehicles (such as the
EU, Japan...). In addition, several countries
are going to make land planning at urban
and rural such as China, India, changed
Environmental Law towards improving
environmental
standards,
recycling
3

Wu Changhua, Nng lng mi: cha khoa m ra

k nguyn bng n kinh t mi, Theo tin Kinh t,
TTXVN, 15-9-2009.

regulations in some sectors, environmental

labeling for agricultural products...
4. OBSTACLES
IN
GREEN
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
The implementation of green
technology is not the immediate solution,
but a long-term solution. The transition to
green technology is very difficult, not
simple . The transition to clean energy still
must overcome many obstacles:
(1) In terms of infrastructure. Electric
power supply network from 50 to 100
years old need to change to be able to use
all the alternative fuels;
(2) Energy technology is a difficult
problem, turn wind power into energy is
technology was relatively complete but still
has a lot to do with the different types of
renewable energy such as solar,
geothermal, bio-energy...;
(3) The cost to implement green
technologies is very large, it requires a
huge financing costs of countries.
Implementing green technologies also
touching forces are benefiting as oil
companies, coal, cars, insurance... For
example, one of the first factors that may
hinder the intent of President Obama's
green technology is the powerful influence
of coal and oil groups;
5. VIETNAM
WITH
TECHNOLOGY AND
IMPLICATIONS

GREEN
POLICY

For more than 25 years of renovation ,

Vietnam has achieved economic growth is
quite impressive , and it is accompanied by
increased energy demands than 2 times and
is expected to continue to double in the

next decade if economic growth remain

this trend. If Vietnam continues to develop
energy in this current way until 2020,
Vietnam will move from an energy
exporter to energy importer.
According to statistics, Vietnam is one of
10 countries affected most by climate
change. If Vietnam does not switch to
clean technology development, technology
reduces CO2 emissions, the risk of
environmental pollution and climate
change unpredictably. The deployment of
energy efficiency and low carbon
technology applications on large scope can
stabilize CO2 emissions in Vietnam until
2030; halve the cost of the domestic
environment, enhancing energy security
without negative impact on economic
growth.
Model of economic development in
Vietnam over time primarily developed in
width, based on the exploitation of natural
resources, raw materials and semiprocessed. Therefore requires urgent to
switch to the model developed in depth,
using clean energy. Thus maintain
economic growth, reduce climate change,
strengthen energy security are posing an
urgent need for green technology
development in Vietnam. In addition, the
potential of new and renewable energy in
Vietnam is very large, so the
diversification of energy supply in Vietnam
is necessary and urgent.
As the above analysis of the role and
significance of green technology is huge,
not only at national level but also at the
global level, which is focus on sustainable
economic development in the future. The

trend in green technology around the world

opens up opportunities for Vietnam to go
straight to proactively develop green
technologies and the green economy, but
also create lagging behind further if
Vietnam don't seize opportunities.
For developing countries like Vietnam, the
pursuit of a new economy, with innovation
technology needs are becoming the major
task. Therefore, development issues and
sustainable green technology should
become a strategic priority in Vietnam's
economic development for next decade.
Economic Development Strategy - Social
2011 - 2020 of Vietnam has emphasized
the importance of developing green
technologies and the green economy: focus
on the development of green economy,
environmental
friendly.
Perform
sustainable production and consumption,
step by step development of clean energy
and clean production4. At the Asean
Ministers on Energy Meeting conference of
South East Asia (AMEM 28) in Vietnam
dated 27-7-2010, Prime Minister Nguyen
Tan Dung emphasized further cooperation
in ASEAN to promote power projects, oil
and gas, energy efficiency, renewable
energy, clean development mechanism.
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai
emphasized the exhibition opening remarks
green technology Green Biz 2009 and
conference on environmental solutions
business of European green for Vietnam in
Hanoi that day 17-9-2009, Vietnam
government
consistently
advocated
4

Communist Party of Vietnam (2010a), The

draft of economic- social development strategy
2011 2020, Ha Noi, Vietnam, 24/10, p.45.
.

economic development - society must be

associated with environmental protection,
applaud and encourage the exchange of
experiences,
collaborative
research,
development and application of green
technologies with foreign partners,
including Europe, one of the most
development technology center in the
world.
In 2007, the Energy Development Strategy
of Vietnam country until 2020 and vision
to 2050 approved. Law saving energy use
in 2010... As such, revolution transition to
clean energy demand asked Vietnam to
make significant domestic policy and
deploy institutional reforms. However, in
policies, programs and strategies for
energy in Vietnam has not mention about
reduce using technology which is exhaust
the carbon emissions, carbon charge, and
the specific tasks in development sources
of renewable energy. In order to make
sustainable development of the energy
industry, Vietnam needs to invest huge
funds in the next few decades, Vietnam
enterprises account for over 90% of
Vietnam's economy is not ready to the
energy saving and using new energy.
Because of these reason above, we offer
some suggestions as follows:
Should concretize and realize the Law used
to save energy in many different levels.
- Need to promulgate new laws such as the
Law on clean energy.

- Must have pricing policy, charging

carbon on confidence level, consistent with
Vietnam, the region and the world in long
term.
- There are specific policies for
development and using energy sources that
Vietnam has strength as source of new and
renewable energy. The government
encourages enterprises to participate
effectively use.
- International cooperation on developing
energy technology, clean technology and
make the commitment to effective.
6. CONCLUSION
The development trend of green
technology is a strategic priority for many
countries in the world selected to respond
to the crisis and after the economic crisis, it
is considered the turning point for the
recovery process of the global economy
and a new impetus to the promotion of
global economic sustainable development
in the twenty-first century.
Vietnam needs to continue innovation
economy and restructure national economy
towards developing dynamic, efficient and
sustainable, should enlist the development
trend of green technology in the world, at
the same time institutional innovation,
consolidation and implementation of
policies and guidelines for the development
of green technology in order to overcome
challenges to restructure the economy,
putting the economy flourished in the
decades to come.

REFERENCES
[1] Tap, Vo Minh, Energy security issue of some regions in Global energy security strategy,
The third international scientific conference sustainable energy development, Publising
Houese for Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2013.
[2] Obama, Brack, New energy policy of Brack Obama, Politique International Journal, No.
125, 2009
[3] Changhua, Wu, Nng lng mi: cha khoa m ra k nguyn bng n kinh t mi, Theo
tin Kinh t, TTXVN, 15-9-2009.
[4] Communist Party of Vietnam, The draft of economic- social development strategy 2011
2020, Ha Noi, Vietnam, 24/10, p.45, 2010a.
[5] World Bank, Global Economic Prospects 2009, Forecast Update, Washington D.C, 2009.
[6] IMF, World Economic Outlook (WEO), Washington D.C, 2010.
[7] VietnamAcademy off Social Sciences, Economic Restructuring towards the model of
green growth International Exxperience and Implication for Vietnam, Publising Social
Sciences, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2012.
[8] University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Scientific Conference: Green growth in the
era of globalization, Publising Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2013.