On November 25, during a bilateral meeting, Vietnam initiated discussions with Japan aimed at fortifying disaster risk management strategies and developing climate-resilient infrastructure. This collaboration highlights both nations’ commitment to address the escalating challenges of climate change.

Japan expressed a strong willingness to cooperate, showcasing various technological solutions and potential partners, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Pacific Consultants. This partnership underlines climate change response as a fundamental element of the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The collaboration is anticipated to yield tangible local projects that will directly benefit communities most vulnerable to climate change effects.

An Urgent Concern

During the discussion, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) Le Cong Thanh emphasized the increasingly complex and unpredictable nature of climate change. He pointed out that traditional forecasting methods are becoming insufficient in the face of severe climate events.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), natural disasters in 2025 inflicted substantial damage, underscoring the pressing need to modernize Vietnam’s disaster risk governance technologies. Deputy Minister Thanh noted Japan’s proficiency in disaster risk management systems and climate-resilient infrastructure as critical support for Vietnam’s initiatives.

Vietnam proposed a collaborative effort with Japan to develop a suite of digital tools anchored in four key pillars: Digital Twin modeling, artificial intelligence (AI), satellite observation, and data governance. The objective is to enhance risk assessment, forecasting accuracy, early warning capabilities, and post-disaster recovery.

The Digital Twin modeling component aims to create simulation technologies that can model flooding, storm surges, and urban disaster scenarios. Vietnam anticipates that these tools will assist in planning drainage systems, evacuation strategies, and testing infrastructure resilience, with pilot projects set to be launched in coastal cities.

Additively, AI is expected to play a pivotal role in analyzing meteorological and seismic data. This technology will leverage machine learning to improve the speed and accuracy of flood and landslide forecasts, enabling efficient real-time emergency planning.

Moreover, Vietnam is keen on expanding collaboration on satellite applications to facilitate large-scale and real-time environmental monitoring. Key areas of focus include monitoring coastal erosion, forest conditions, flood patterns, and tracking sea-level rise, particularly in the vulnerable Mekong Delta region. The use of satellite imagery will also expedite post-disaster damage assessments.

One of the overarching goals is the development of a national disaster data management platform that promotes seamless data sharing across ministries while fostering open data policies. MST believes this approach will fortify public-private partnerships and stimulate innovation in forecasting and disaster recovery solutions.

Japan’s Response

Representatives from Japan showcased a variety of climate adaptation solutions already being employed within the country. They highlighted initiatives focused on water environment management and circular economies, particularly in Shiga Prefecture, along with green hydrogen production and clean energy models from Yamanashi Prefecture.

They noted that there could be potential applications for Yamanashi’s initiatives in Vietnam. Pacific Consultants introduced modern solutions for rainwater storage, flood control, and early warning systems, asserting that these technologies align closely with Vietnam’s concerns.

Furthermore, JBIC highlighted its approach to green financing and energy transitions within the AZEC/GX framework, indicating new routes for project funding aimed at addressing climate resilience.