Pig pens power a solution to climate change in Viet Nam
Date: Monday, September 10, 2018
When Trin Gim first started her biogas digester business, many members of her community raised their eyebrows. In the little district of Ung Hoa, located south of Viet Nam’s capital, Hanoi, villagers were not accustomed to seeing a woman take the reins of a business. But eight years later, Trin Gim has achieved not only financial success, but has played a role in a larger fight in Viet Nam against the devastating impacts of climate change.
Ung Hoa is a lush pastoral paradise, where pig farms are a popular feature in most households. Waste from the pigs can be converted into combustible methane gas with a biogas digester. That gas can be used as energy for cooking and household needs. Trin was initially involved in installing these digesters in homes but has since expanded her skillset.
She works to explain the benefits of a digester to potential customers, and then negotiates a price and payment schedule, assesses the feasibility and size of the biogas plant, carts the required material to the house and, together with her team, installs the biogas plant. With eight people in her employ, Trin has now installed about 3,000 biogas plants across seven districts.
Trin’s business is vital for driving greater public and political support for climate change mitigation in Viet Nam.
Read the full story on UN Women's website for Asia and the Pacific