Vietnam Biggest City Likely to Be Hardest Hit by Global Warming: WB

Ho Chi Minh City, the most populous city of Vietnam, may be among Southeast Asian cities most vulnerable to global warming, the World Bank (WB) said in its latest scientific report. The report titled “Turn Down the Heat: Climate Extremes, Regional Impacts and the Case for Resilience” was released on June 20, analyzing the risks the region faces when the global temperature rises by two degrees Celsius, said Anjali Acharya, Environmental Team Leader of the WB Vietnam. The report showed that Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, will likely be heavily affected by rising sea levels, increases in heat extremes and tropical cyclones, ocean warming and acidification. Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila and Yangon are among other cities in the region that are projected to be affected by the global warming. In addition, agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and tourism are the most exposed to climate change in the three river deltas of Mekong, Irrawaddy and Chao Phraya. The Mekong Delta region is a major source of food in Vietnam, producing around 50% of the country’s total agricultural produce and contributing significantly to the country’s rice export. A rise of 30cm in the sea-level could result in the loss of 12% of rice cultivable area. The report forecasts that one of the biggest impacts in Vietnam will be flooding in urban areas caused by sea intrusion in the Mekong Delta. The report provided scientific evidences on which Vietnam and development partners could help the country move along the low-carbon, climate-resilient, sustainable-development path, he added. It also urged more efforts in disaster mitigation, flood management and building climate resilience, especially among the poor. The World Bank is working with Vietnam on a series of policy actions to mitigate climate change impacts and is discussing programs in HCM City and in the Mekong Delta to address some of these threats. (vietnamplus.vn June 21, Sai Gon Giai Phong – Saigon Liberation June 21)