16/09/2024
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Green technology is positively impacting the global economy in general and Vietnam in particular by improving efficiency, creating jobs, promoting innovation and limiting environmental impacts. These long-term economic, environmental and social welfare benefits have made the development of green technology a worthy task in the new era. In this article, let's discover this concept with the Department of Student Affairs (DSA)!
What is green technology?
Green technology (English: Green Tech) is a general term that describes technologies created with the purpose of protecting the environment and limiting the negative impact of humans on the environment from the production process to use (Zaid, 2021). Green technology solutions aim at sustainability. They are designed to meet the needs of the current generation without hindering future generations from meeting their requirements. According to IBM, green technology can limit the impact on the environment in many different ways, including the use of renewable energy sources and focusing on the efficiency of energy use. Currently, green technology is being applied in many fields, typically the energy industry, transportation, waste management, water and air purification (Zaid, 2021).
Green Technology - The technology created to protect the environment
(Source: Medium)
Energy: The majority of the world’s energy is produced by burning fossil fuels. Green technology can be used as an alternative fuel source that is more environmentally sustainable. Typically, the inevitable result of burning fossil fuels in the manufacturing process is the creation of waste. However, using clean energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower meets the basic production requirements without creating any harmful to products.
Transportation: One of the biggest contributors to GHG (Green House Gas) emissions globally is conventionally fueled vehicles. To address this, many companies are incorporating green technology into their transportation infrastructure and developing vehicles in the form of electric vehicles and buses that run on compressed natural gas (CNG).
Waste Management: Green technology is being used in the waste management industry to transport, store and recycle waste. Currently, the trend in solid waste treatment is to recycle, to reuse and to utilize energy from waste, considering waste as a resource. This is also a feature of the circular economy management model.
Circular economy model
(Source: baochinhphu.vn)
Water Purification: Green technology is widely used for water purification around the world. For countries with limited water supplies, green technology can be used to purify polluted water or extract salt from seawater to improve the supply of safe drinking water. Some typical green technology applications for water purification include harnessing waste heat from solar cells to purify saltwater or polluted water using toxin-eating bacteria and biological agents to decompose pollutants in water, etc.
Clean Air: Green technologies are being used to clean up polluted air by reducing carbon emissions from industries. Prominent carbon dioxide (CO2) treatment technologies include Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Direct Air Capture (DAC) which removes CO2 directly from the air, and Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS).
The application of green technology in Vietnam
Green technology in Vietnam is becoming an attractive field with the participation of many businesses and investors, especially in the context of globalization and climate change posing great challenges. In Vietnam, projects related to renewable energy, recycling, and energy consumption reduction are receiving great attention, from not only the government but also the business community and venture capitalists.
A prominent area in the application of green technology in Vietnam is the development of renewable energy. Our country has been promoting the energy transition towards gradually reducing electricity sources using fossil fuels, prioritizing the development of clean, sustainable energy sources, minimizing greenhouse gas emissions; and increasing activities to attract investment in the development of renewable energy industries, listed as solar power plants, wind power plants, thermal power plants, etc. in the spirit of promoting internal resources as well as enhancing cooperation and support from partners and attracting FDI capital from large enterprises.
Vietnam in the Top 10 places with the largest solar power installation capacity in the world in 2020
(Source: Visual Capitalist)
In recent years, Vietnam has witnessed a boom in green technology startups, with many innovative and potential projects. Vietnam is emerging as a renewable energy hub, with the region’s leading solar power capacity and offshore wind capacity reaching 600MW by the end of 2020. The Vietnamese government has set a target of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development. This creates incentives for startups to focus on green solutions, from clean energy to recycling and reducing energy consumption. This helps businesses improve operational efficiency, save costs, and reduce the impact of climate change. For example, data centers are switching to more efficient computing devices and responsible cooling methods to reduce carbon emissions, according to VnEconomy.
Future trends in industries
The development of green technology not only has a positive impact on the environment but also significantly increases the demand for jobs in this field. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that by 2030, the green economy can create 24 million new jobs globally. These jobs focus on applying sustainable measures in the field of energy, specifically changing the energy structure, promoting the use of electric vehicles and improving the energy efficiency of buildings. In Vietnam, some available occupations related to green technology are being in need of human resources, especially high-quality human resources.
Renewable Energy Engineer: Experts in this field focus on designing, developing, and maintaining renewable energy systems listed as solar power, wind power, and biomass energy. They play an important role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Currently in Vietnam, the demand for human resources in this field is very large, with salaries ranging from 10 to over 30 million VND/month, depending on qualifications and years of work experience. In addition, employees have the opportunity to work with large foreign energy corporations.
Waste and recycling management professionals: These professionals oversee and coordinate waste management activities, develop effective waste treatment and recycling methods, and minimize negative impacts on the environment. They may participate in planning and implementing community education programs on recycling and waste management. Currently, there is a huge shortage of human resources involved in waste recycling in Vietnam, leading to a high demand for professionals with specialized training in management and recycling techniques to access and to receive transfer of new technologies.
Sustainable architects/designers: With the increase in population and the demand for high-quality living spaces, green urban projects are becoming an inevitable trend. Architects/designers play an important role in designing and developing sustainable urban areas, minimizing negative impacts on the environment. They focus on creating green, environmentally friendly buildings by using organic materials, alternative renewable energy sources (solar, wind), and energy-saving equipment, improving air and water quality, as well as creating healthy living spaces for the community.
Green University - UEH Green Campus
Aiming at the goal of a Multidisciplinary and Sustainable University, UEH is actively promoting green lifestyles and developing green technology at its campuses. The Living Lab Green Campus project was created to address environmental issues at UEH, building a community of green researchers and striving to create positive impacts not only limited to the campus but also to the wider community. UEH students can join the journey to become “Green UEHer Citizens” through activities listed as consolidating knowledge with the Green Campus Game, using the AI Tool to classify waste, or to learn about research on green technology and green lifestyles at the website https://gogreen.ueh.edu.vn/!
Conclusion
In general, green technology is truly reshaping the economy and environment around the world. The significant changes that green technology brings not only positive impacts on the environment but also promises the potential for economic growth, attracting foreign direct investment and supporting sustainable production. In Vietnam, green technology is being on the rise, especially in the field of renewable energy. However, along with many opportunities are great challenges, for example, many fields are in need of high-quality human resources. Therefore, the successful application of green technology in Vietnam requires in-depth research, orientation, effective strategies, and much effort.
News and photos: UEH Department of Student Affairs
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