Vietnam - Facilitating Implementation Readiness for Mitigation (FIRM)

Developing countries are requesting international financial and technical support to lay the foundations for and start implementing low carbon energy development paths rather than follow a business-as-usual fossil energy trajectory. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, additional benefits – employment generation, reduced expenditures on imports of fossil fuels, and improvements in local environmental quality, among others – provide strong arguments for adopting a low carbon approach to economic growth. The ‘Facilitating Implementation and Readiness for Mitigation’ project (FIRM) will help six to eight developing countries make a “quick start” on technology-based mitigation activities that are compatible with the evolving concept of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs). FIRM will provide focused technical advice and strengthen the capabilities of energy and environmental policy makers and experts – and the institutions in which they work. The result will be the accelerated implementation of public and private mitigation projects within a NAMA framework, and reduced emission of greenhouse gases.