Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked
relevant agencies to rapidly complete and publish the latest climate change and
rising sea level scenarios for likely affected localities.

Drought and saline water encroachment choke cultivated land in Co Do District in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. (Photo: VNS)

The PM was speaking to members of the Steering Board of the
National Target Programme (NTP) on Climate Change
in the capital city yesterday, Feb 16.

That was
the second time the National Steering Board had met to discuss orientations and
plans for the implementation of the NTP for the 2011-15 period.

It is
forecast that Viet Nam is one of several developing countries that will be
seriously affected by climate change, particularly rising sea levels.

Climate
change will seriously affect people’s livelihoods, the environment and
infrastructure as well as the gains Viet Nam has achieved in poverty reduction
in recent years.

As a
proactive response to climate change, Viet Nam ratified the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol in 2008, with the
country adopting its own NTP.

Viet Nam
has successfully mobilised more than US$1.2 billion from international donors
for activities in response to climate change. So far funding of about $1.3
billion has been committed or is in the process of negotiation with
international donors for the NTP.

During
their discussions, members of the steering board agreed to focus on drafting
legal documents in response to climate change while reviewing the contents of
the NTP. The meeting focused on immediate points of action.

They
also agreed on the need to have international donors involved in the programme’s
activities and management unit, with specific tasks assigned to each locality
and agency.

“In the
comprehensive strategy on climate change and rising sea levels we have to
highlight the importance of the issue – a matter of life or death of the
nation,” said Dung adding “Having a good strategy will guide us developing
action plans to ensure the NTP is successfully executed.”

He asked
all sectors and localities to make best use of their internal resources while
mobilising external support to invest in projects to respond to climate change
and the sea level rises.

He
ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to co-ordinate with
other ministries, sectors and localities to specify activities that must be
urgently undertaken to cope with the negative impact of climate change,
including the reduction of the greenhouse gases.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News