Denmark and the UNDP have offered 60 million in non-refundable aid in addition to a preferential loan of $450 million from the Japanese government to assist Vietnam in coping with climate change.

Speaking at a press conference on December 19 about the results of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen emphasized the need for Vietnam to carry out five key tasks: reinforcing the efficiency of the sea dyke systems; developing afforestation, launching campaigns to prevent natural disasters; synchronizing the hydro-meteorological monitoring and forecasting system; and proposing measures to protect the Mekong Delta and Red River rice granaries.

Nguyen noted that Vietnam took advantage of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the conference to draw support from international organisations like the UNDP, the Japanese International Cooperation Programme (JICA), the World Bank and the host country.

He emphasized that Vietnam is always on the front line of responding to climate change with its national target listed as one of more than 20 first strategic programmes in the world.

PV