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       Vietnam Relied on Environmentalists to Secure Billions. Then It Jailed Them.

       The government is preparing to present its energy transition plan at the U.N. climate talks as it intensifies a crackdown on environmental advocates.

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       Solar panels at the Sao Mai power plant in An Giang Province, Vietnam, last year. The country has been awarded $15.5 billion in grants and loans in exchange for a commitment to renewable energy. Credit...Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

       By Sui-Lee Wee

       Nov. 28, 2023

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       When Vietnam was awarded a multibillion-dollar deal by a group of nine wealthy nations last year to work on reducing its use of coal, it agreed to regularly consult with nongovernmental organizations.

       Instead, the government has arrested several prominent environmentalists from those organizations who shaped policies that helped secure the funding, prompting concerns over sending money to countries that have violated human rights.

       As the country prepares to announce how it will spend the money at the United Nations climate talks that begin on Thursday, activists are saying that Vietnamese officials need to be held accountable for what they are calling a harsh crackdown against those who speak out about the country’s environmental woes.

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       Sui-Lee Wee is the Southeast Asia bureau chief for The Times, overseeing coverage of 11 countries in the region. More about Sui-Lee Wee

       A version of this article appears in print on Nov. 29, 2023, Section A , Page 11 of the New York edition with the headline: Vietnam Jails Environmentalists Who Helped It Secure Billions . Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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