The European Union has identified the dual transformation as a key development orientation to achieve sustainable development goals, with two pillars: digital economy and green economy. Not only stopping at applying digital technology to management and production, the dual transformation also extends to the circular economic model, helping to optimize resources and minimize emissions. Vietnam - a rapidly developing country, at the same time strongly committed to reducing emissions - is considered a typical case in realizing this goal.

In that context, the research by the group of authors Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Tu (International School, VNU) and Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Anh (University of Economics, VNU) analyzed the relationship between ICT and greenhouse gas emissions in Vietnam in the period 2014-2023, thereby pointing out important opportunities, challenges and policy implications to ensure digital transformation goes hand in hand with green transformation.

The two-sided impact of information and communication technology

ICT – including telecommunications infrastructure, the Internet, digital devices and services – is considered a core driving force for global digital transformation. However, the impact of ICT on the environment is two-sided: on the one hand, it helps optimize energy and improve production efficiency, on the other hand, it increases the demand for electricity, especially from data centers and electronic devices.

Many studies around the world have shown that ICT can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions through improved energy management, supply chain optimization and the development of environmentally friendly technology. But on the contrary, the expansion of digital infrastructure, especially in the early stages, leads to increased emissions due to large electricity consumption, especially in developing countries.

The analysis results of the research team in Vietnam show that this picture is also two-way. In the period 2014–2023, CO₂ emissions per capita increased from 1.96 tons to 3.33 tons – an increase of about 70% after 10 years. At the same time, the proportion of households with Internet access increased sharply from 18.6% to 87.7%, while international bandwidth increased more than 13 times. This shows that the strong development of ICT infrastructure has contributed to promoting growth, but also created significant pressure on the environment.

Notably, the correlation analysis shows that CO₂ emissions have a relatively strong positive relationship with the proportion of households with internet access. In other words, as digital connectivity expands, emissions tend to increase, reflecting the environmental costs of technology diffusion. However, this relationship is not linear but changes over time: as ICT infrastructure matures and is linked to renewable energy, the negative impacts may gradually decrease, turning into sustainable benefits.

Vietnam at the crossroads of dual transformation

Data shows that Vietnam has made great progress in both pillars of the dual transformation. In terms of digital, telecommunications and Internet infrastructure covers almost the entire country, mobile data service prices have decreased by more than 70% compared to 10 years ago, creating conditions for people to easily access technology. In terms of green, the proportion of renewable energy in the national power system has reached about 25% by 2023 - an encouraging figure.

However, this process also exposes certain risks. While the demand for digital connectivity and energy consumption is increasing rapidly, the lack of synchronization in green infrastructure development can make ICT a new source of emissions. In other words, if investment in digital transformation is not linked to green transformation, Vietnam may fall into the "emission trap" - where technology promotes economic growth but harms the environment.

Therefore, the implementation of the dual transformation needs to be designed according to an overall strategy, clearly divided into phases and closely linked to national emission reduction targets. It is necessary to ensure that each step in the digital transformation contributes to green and sustainable development.

From data to policy: the way forward for Vietnam

From the research results, the authors propose many valuable policy recommendations for Vietnam in the dual transformation process.

First of all, it is necessary to invest early and systematically in energy-saving ICT infrastructure. Data centers, network systems and digital services should be operated on renewable energy, and at the same time apply emission reduction technologies such as high-performance cooling, server virtualization or smart energy management. In particular, local digital transformation projects must integrate green development goals right from the planning stage.

Second, it is necessary to encourage a circular economic model in the ICT sector – from recycling electronic equipment, recovering components, to extending product life cycles. The programs “old phones for schools”, “reusing technology equipment” not only help save costs but also reduce electronic waste, thereby directly contributing to the goal of sustainable development.

Third, international cooperation and fair technology transfer play a key role. Vietnam needs to participate more deeply in cooperation programs on clean energy, carbon management and green innovation, and at the same time develop endogenous capacity to not only receive but also master and create technology suitable to domestic conditions.

Fourth, it is necessary to perfect the legal framework on environmental standards in ICT. Issuing regulations on data center emissions, energy standards for equipment, or incentive mechanisms for businesses using renewable energy will be necessary steps to orient the industry towards sustainable development. At the same time, these standards should be integrated into the Draft Law on Digital Transformation 2025 - to create a unified legal corridor for both goals: digitalization and greening the economy.

Finally, the dual transformation strategy needs to be implemented in a flexible roadmap, in line with national resources. Instead of investing simultaneously, Vietnam can prioritize developing renewable energy and green infrastructure first, then expanding digital infrastructure on that platform. This approach helps optimize investment efficiency, reduce costs and avoid the situation where technology develops before there is a clean energy platform.

Towards sustainable development in the digital age

Dual transformation is not only a goal, but also an opportunity for Vietnam to shape a new development model - where economic growth goes hand in hand with environmental protection. To achieve that, there needs to be a long-term policy vision, close coordination between the state, businesses and the scientific community. ICT will continue to be an important tool for innovation and productivity improvement, but will only truly bring comprehensive benefits when operated within the framework of green and circular development.

As Vietnam steadfastly pursues the goal of “digital transformation associated with green transformation”, the path towards sustainable development is not only feasible but also becomes a new competitive advantage of the economy in the global digital age.