Mr Viengnam Duangphachanh, Director General of Housing and Urban Planning Department  (R) shake hands with Mr. Thomas Jacobs, IFC Country Manager for Viet Nam, the Lao PDR and Cambodia in Vientiane on Nov 3.

(KPL)The Housing and Urban Planning Department, Ministry of Public Works and Transport and International Finance Corporation (IFC) on last Friday signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct a study and data collection to develop a green city action plan for the Vientiane Capital by applying IFC’s innovative APEX tools (Advanced Practices for Environmental Excellence in Cities).

The new project will deepen the partnership between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and IFC for future cooperation in meeting the growing infrastructure needs while addressing national climate challenges of the Lao PDR.

With IFC-innovated APEX tools, the project aims to develop a green city action plan by collecting data and information from relevant sectors, including transportation, build environment and energy, waste, and water in the Vientiane Capital.

The action plan will focus on set up targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction, policy measures, activities or priority projects for green investment which will result in improving environment and transforming the Vientiane Capital into a low-carbon and climate-resilient city from 2030 onwards.

 “I would like to commend IFC for its leadership in the development of the APEX tools and believe that this collaboration will be a great success. I do hope to see the Vientiane Capital develop into a model green city for other cities in the country and in the ASEAN region to follow,” said Mr Viengnam Duangphachanh, Director General of Housing and Urban Planning Department.

The Vientiane Capital will be the first city in the Lao PDR to use the internationally recognized APEX tools in calculating the environmental footprint of its infrastructure across four key sectors: built environment and energy, transportation, waste, and water. Based on the collected data, APEX will recommend the most effective green measures that cover planning, policy, and investment options to build a climate resilient and low-carbon city.

The green city action plan will also suggest priority green projects to attract funding from international financial institutions once it is completed. Also, this project will strengthen capacity for civil servants in the field of housing and urban planning.

 “Climate is at the core of IFC business, and we have been focusing on supporting Lao PDR’s transition to a greener and more sustainable economic growth. Having a green city action plan in place will help the Vientiane Capital meet its growing infrastructure needs in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, transforming the capital city into a modern, clean, and green city that brings a quality life to its people,” said Mr. Thomas Jacobs, IFC Country Manager for Viet Nam, the Lao PDR and Cambodia.

KPL