Decree 396/2026/ND-CP: Amendments to GHG Emission Reduction and Domestic Carbon Credit Trading Regulations

On October 26, 2026, the Government promulgated Decree No. 396/2026/ND-CP amending and supplementing several articles of Decree No. 06/2022/ND-CP on GHG emission reduction and ozone layer protection, as amended and supplemented by Decrees No. 119/2025/ND-CP, No. 83/2026/ND-CP and No. 112/2026/ND-CP. The new Decree takes effect on December 12, 2026.

Decree No. 396/2026/ND-CP introduces amendments to the following key areas:

• Account registration on the National Registry.
• Domestic carbon credit trading and offsetting mechanisms.

1. Account Registration on the National Registry

The authority responsible for granting accounts on the National Registry has been adjusted in accordance with Resolution No. 17/2026/NQ-CP on the reduction, decentralization and simplification of administrative procedures under the management of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

Accordingly, the authority to receive applications and grant accounts for the following entities is transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to provincial-level People's Committees:

• Organizations participating in projects registered under domestic carbon credit trading and offsetting mechanisms.
• Organizations participating in programs and projects under other international carbon credit trading and offsetting mechanisms.

2. Domestic Carbon Credit Trading and Offsetting Mechanisms

Decree No. 396/2026/ND-CP revises the authority responsible for receiving and processing administrative procedures related to projects under domestic carbon credit trading and offsetting mechanisms. 

Accordingly, the authority to receive and process applications for project registration, project registration amendments, changes to project participants, and project deregistration is transferred from the relevant line ministries to provincial-level People's Committees.

3. Transitional Provisions

Applications for National Registry account registration, project registration, changes to project participants, project deregistration, and carbon credit issuance under domestic carbon credit trading and offsetting mechanisms that were received by the relevant line ministries before August 1, 2026, are not required to be resubmitted. Such applications will continue to be processed in accordance with the regulations in force at the time of receipt. 

4. Implications and Recommendations for Businesses

Decree No. 396/2026/ND-CP primarily revises the authority responsible for receiving and processing administrative procedures related to National Registry account registration and project registration under domestic carbon credit trading and offsetting mechanisms.

Accordingly, organizations and businesses participating in carbon credit trading and offsetting programs or projects should update their information on the competent authorities responsible for receiving and processing applications to ensure compliance with the new requirements.