Promoting Green Reforms in a Rapidly Industrializing Country: Energy Transition and Climate Smart Development in Viet Nam

Viet Nam faces the key challenge of sustaining rapid economic growth while transitioning towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. As the country pursues ambitious development and net-zero goals, policymakers require robust analytical tools and evidence to evaluate alternative development and energy transition pathways.

This project supports evidence-based policymaking through the development of new macroeconomic and economy-wide modelling tools, improved data systems, policy-relevant research, and capacity building. The project is implemented by the University of Copenhagen Development Economics Research Group (UCPH-DERG) together with colleagues from the Environmental Economics Group (EG) in collaboration with leading Vietnamese policy institutions and with financial support from the Royal Danish Embassy in Viet Nam.

The project focuses on:

  • Macroeconomic modelling and data upgrading.
  • Development of a Vietnam-specific GreenReform model.
  • Analysis of energy transition and climate-smart development policies.
  • Capacity building and policy engagement with key Vietnamese stakeholders.

 

 

 

 

 

National Institute for Economics and Finance (NIEF)

  • Project lead, Dr. Tran Toan Thang
  • Dr. Nguyen Thi Doan Trang
  • MSc. Do Van Lam
  • MSc. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang
  • MSc. Ta Van Thang
  • MSc. Vu Thi Huyen Trang

Institute of Policy and Strategy Studies (IPSS)

  • Project lead, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Hoai
  • MA. Nguyen Thanh Huyen
  • MA. Pham Phu Minh
  • Dr. Ha Thi Thu Thuy
  • Dr. Nguyen Phuong Thao
  • MA. Hoang Thi Minh Ha
  • Ms. Tran Binh Minh

Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE)

  • Project lead, Dr. Truong Thi Thu Trang
  • Dr. Doan Minh Thu
  • Dr. Dinh Quynh Oanh
  • MA. Nguyen Thi Thuy
  • MA. Pham Kieu Hanh

Consultant for Department of Economics

  • Dirk van Seventer

 

  • Dr. Nam Hoang Vu, Foreign Trade University
  • Dr. Pham Ngoc Toan, Ministry of Home Affairs
  • MA. Nguyen Ngoc Que, Former Director, Centre for Agricultural Policy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting with the Danish Energy Agency (DEA)

Date: 18 September 2026

Agenda
Schedule:
  • 9.00 Arrival at DEA’s reception
For modelling group at DEA/Global Cooperation and other relevant colleagues at DEA/Systems Analysis (+ Hanoi colleagues):
  • 9:05-9:15 Short introduction to DEA’s work in Global Cooperation, with focus on energy modelling
  • 9:15-10.15 Presentation by Copenhagen University (UCPH) on macro-economic modelling:
    • An introduction to the current UCPH project in Vietnam and its relation to earlier projects (15 min.)
    • How the CGE model looks like, and what it can be used for (30 min.)
    • A presentation identifying synergies between the Danish Energy Agency’s projects and UCPH’s work  (15 min.)
  • 10.15-11.00 Discussion and Q&A (all)
  • 11.00-11.15 Break
Vietnam team break-out (UCPH, DEA VN + Hanoi colleagues):
  • 11.15-12.00 Vietnam-focused follow-up and next steps

Download slides from the meeting.


Macroeconomic Modelling Training

Dates: 8-10 July and 14 July 2026
Venue: National Institute for Economics and Finance (NIEF), Hanoi

This training programme focuses on:

  • Foundations of macroeconomic modelling
  • The Vietnam Macro Model (VMM)
  • Data updating and parameter estimation
  • Model validation and testing
  • Policy simulations and scenario analysis

The course is designed to strengthen the technical skills of policy analysts and researchers from partner institutions.

Download slides.

Launch Workshop and Technical Seminar

Date: 18 March 2026
Venue: National Institute for Economics and Finance (NIEF), Hanoi

The project officially commenced with a launch workshop attended by representatives from the Royal Danish Embassy, UCPH-DERG, NIEF, IPSS, and ISPAE. The event introduced project objectives, established collaborative arrangements, and formally launched implementation activities.

The accompanying technical workshop included presentations on:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team

UCPH team

Name Title Phone E-mail
Finn Tarp Professor +4535323041 E-mail
Jonathan Wenzel Pedersen Research Assistant +4535335549 E-mail
Peter Kjær Kruse-Andersen Associate Professor +4535334792 E-mail
Rasmus Kehlet Skjødt Berg Assistant Professor +4535334647 E-mail
Rasmus Kirkeby Strøbæk PhD Fellow E-mail

Funding

The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark / Royal Danish Embassy in Viet Nam. 

Project period: January 2026 – December 2027

Principal investigator: Finn Tarp