Hanoi, Viet Nam. An FAO-supported kick-off workshop was held today in Ha Noi to enhance bio-energy sustainability in Viet Nam through use of Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) indicators.

FAO is a founding partner of GBEP, an international initiative established in 2006 that has developed a science-based, technically sound and highly relevant set of indicators to inform policy-makers and stakeholders in countries seeking to develop bio-energy sectors to meet national sustainable development goals.

“Today’s event was an opportunity for scientists, researchers, government officers and businesses to share and discuss current bio-energy practices within and outside the country and how to use sustainable GBEP indicators to monitor impacts of bio-energy production and use in Viet Nam,” said JongHa Bae, FAO Representative in Viet Nam.

To ensure these indicators can be a practical tool to support policy-making towards sustainable development of bio-energy, the FAO project GCP/GLO/554/GER (BMU) “Building capacity for enhancing bio-energy sustainability through the use of the GBEP indicators” was launched today. Funded by the Government of Germany, the project is implemented by Viet Nam Academy of Agricultural Science VAAS under Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developement MARD, with technical assistance from FAO over two years.

Through the use of GBEP sustainable indicators for bio-energy, the project will provide technical support and capacity building to Viet Nam to monitor environmental and socio-economic impacts of bio-energy production and use, particularly actual contributions to greenhouse gas emission reductions by replacing fossil fuels and traditional biomass use, while harnessing socio-economic co-benefits. Moreover, the project will contribute to strengthening the ability of Viet Nam to adapt to the negative effects of climate change, as it provides the basis for better planning and management of resources, including soil, water and land use.