The carbon economy in Southeast Asian countries: Opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises

NGUYEN THI CAM THUY

Email: [email protected]

PhD. University of Finance and Business Administration

Abstract

The transition toward a low-carbon economy has emerged as a structural imperative for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to mitigate climate vulnerability, overcome the fossil-fuel intensity paradox, and navigate global green trade barriers, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Although the potential of the carbon credit market in ASEAN is substantial, empirical evidence indicates that the region still grapples with institutional fragmentation and hurdles stemming from voluntary carbon market (VCM) pricing that remains significantly lower than marginal abatement costs (MAC). This study comprehensively evaluates the carbon economy landscape across ASEAN member states, elucidating the financial lacunae and carbon pricing policy contexts in pivotal nations. The findings corroborate the inevitable shift toward compliance emissions trading systems (ETS) and the establishment of interoperable markets, thereby unlocking strategic opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to access green financial flows, develop carbon accounting and auditing services, sustain export competitiveness, and foster innovation throughout the supply chain.

Keywords: Carbon economy, enterprises, Southeast Asia, Viet Nam

(This article was published in the Vietnam Economic&Financial Review, Vol 2, Issue 2, April 2026)

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