Heatwaves May Eat up 6% of Vietnam’s GDP by 2030: UN Report

Extreme weather, especially hot spells may cause negative impacts on Vietnam’s economy, eating up an estimated 6% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, according to UN University’s Malaysia-based International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH). The institute’s papers raised a warning about large productivity losses due to heat stress, estimating that in South-East Asia alone “as much as 15% to 20% of annual work hours may already be lost in heat-exposed jobs”, including Vietnam. Tord Kjellstrom from the Health and Environment International Trust, New Zealand said “Current climate conditions in tropical and subtropical parts of the world are already so hot during the hot seasons that occupational health effects occur and work capacity for many people is affected.” Dr. Kjellstrom’s paper cites estimated GDP losses due to heat stress for 43 countries, including Australia, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the U.S., UK, and Vietnam. He said that it is very important to develop and apply adaptation measures now to protect people from the disasters that current climate and slowing changing climate brings. However, adaptation is only half an answer, we must also take decisive action now to mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases, he added. Vietnam has called for international support for its climate change resilience programs. Since 2009, it has borrowed more than $1 billion for climate change adaption programs from foreign organizations. (Thanh Nien – Young People July 19, www.eurekalert.org July 18)