Legal empowerment for women in the green economy: International commitments and implementation in Vietnam

Green economic transformation is increasingly seen as central to sustainable development in the context of climate change, pressures on natural resources, and the growing need for inclusive development globally. In Vietnam, green growth is increasingly understood not only through emissions reduction, technological innovation, renewable energy, and sustainable resource management, but also through the lens of human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment. While Vietnam’s policy and legal frameworks have made important progress in supporting the green transition, the gender dimension of this process could be given clearer expression in law and more consistent effect in practice, particularly in relation to women’s access to green finance, business opportunities, skills training, and other productive resources needed to participate . Through a legal and policy analysis and drawing on theories of the green economy and legal empowerment, this study examines how Vietnam is implementing its international commitments under CEDAW, the Paris Agreement, and other relevant instruments to promote women’s legal empowerment in the green economy. It then assesses Vietnam’s achievements, challenges, and areas for further improvement, and proposes recommendations to strengthen legal empowerment and women’s participation as important elements in advancing a more inclusive green economy in Vietnam.