Nguy Thi Khanh is a pioneer leader of Vietnam’s environmental movement and has played an instrumental role in shifting Vietnam from coal and towards renewables and energy efficiency. Khanh’s breakthrough strategy will focus on accelerating Vietnam’s clean energy economy, safeguarding clean air and water for public health, and sharing lessons with partners in Southeast Asia to usher in a clean energy era for the region.

In 2011 the Vietnamese government published its Power Development Plan for 2011-2020 with outlook to 2030 calling for 75,000 megawatts of coal-fired power by 2030. That same year, Khanh founded the Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID) to promote sustainable energy development in Vietnam. Bringing together scientists, experts, media, and civil society, Khanh and GreenID have been able to help key leaders and the public increase their understanding of the health and community risks of coal while highlighting another path forward through clean energy and energy efficiency.