SEMINAR ON SOLAR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

On September 14, 2017, the Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies (CVSEAS) ran a seminar on “Solar Energy and Climate Change” presented by Prof. Michiko Yoshii from the Okinawa University (Japan). The event witnessed the presence of Dr. Tran Dinh Lam – CVSEAS’s Director, representatives of different Departments of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE): Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh – Deputy Head of the Office of Water, Mineral Resources and Hydrometeorology, Binh Duong’s DNRE, Mr. Dinh Viet Cuong from Dong Thap’s DNRE, Mrs. Chau Truc Phuong from HCMC’s DNRE, Mrs. Tran Hong Lan from Office of Climate Change, HCMC’s DNRE, together with lecturers and students from the Faculty of Urban Studies, HCMC University of Social Sciences and Humanities. 

At the seminar, Prof. Yoshii gave a talk with 3 parts: providing a detailed explanation of the “no-electric-wire house” model, introducing several similar models implemented in Vietnam, and the possibility of popularizing this model in the country.

Apart from those contents, through her seminar, Prof. Yoshii wanted to convey the message of living economically, harmonizing with nature and becoming self-contained in order to reduce our dependence on electricity. The professor said that after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, renewable energy has become an issue of concern to the majority of Japanese researchers and residents. However, Vietnam does not need to experience such a nuclear accident as the Japanese people did in order to move forward, for the application of the “no-electric-wire house” model in Vietnam in general, and in HCM City in particular, is very feasible thanks to its favorable weather conditions (sunny, not having prolonged rain).

Representatives of DNRE from provinces and HCM City also support the use of clean energy brought by the “no-electric-wire house’ model. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh (Binh Duong’s DNRE) added that the Government signed the Paris Agreement in 2016, in which the building of solar energy systems will be one of the national policy’s requirements for provinces and cities from 2020. Yet many people express their concern over high expenses for such systems which prove unsuitable for the general public. The issue of green energy is not only worth of attention of provincial departments of natural resources and environment but also requires cooperation among related agencies.

Additionally, Mrs. Tran Hong Lan (Office of Climate Change, HCMC’s DNRE) stated her opinion that although each individual has his or her own viewpoint and philosophy of life, they need to live in harmony with nature as well as the social advancement in a new era.

The seminar was really thought-provoking, given that human beings have increasingly become reliant on technology and electricity in the industrial age. It is expected that a solution to electricity saving with reasonable expenses will soon be worked out so we can aim at sustainable development in conformity with natural surroundings.

Some photos taken at the seminar:

Prof. Michiko Yoshii from Okinawa University (Japan).

Q & A section between the participants and the Professor.

The professor takes a photo with representatives of Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, lecturers, and students from Department of Urban Studies.

Documentary of Prof. Yoshii Michiko

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