Vietnam Ministry to Submit Climate Change Strategy to Govt Early June

The Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will submit a national strategy on coping with climate change to the government for approval by early June 2011, Deputy Minister Tran Hong Ha said. The draft strategy is expected to be completed this month after collecting suggestions from international and domestic scientists, Ha was cited by the Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon newspaper as saying May 11. Scientists and environmentalists will take part in a conference in Hanoi next week to discuss ways to deal with the impacts of climate change which is showing clear signs nationwide, within the next 50 years, he attributed. The strategy will include specific actions and prospects by 2050 with a vision to 2100, focusing on some main area like the construction of coastal breakwaters, and irrigation works to fight seawater intrusion and prevent high tides, he added. The World Bank estimated that Vietnam will need to spend some $850 million per year on climate change projects from now to 2050, including $160 million for agriculture, $540 million for anti-flood projects, $130 million for aquaculture and $12 million for seaports. Vietnam is listed among five hardest-hit countries by climate change. If sea level rises one meter, 5% of Vietnam’s land, 11% of its population and 7% of its agricultural land would be affected with the losses estimated at 10% of GDP. By 2100, the average temperature will likely rise by 3-5 degrees Celsius while sea levels might rise by over 1 meter. There will also be more frequent disturbances to the overall climate such as tropical storms, floods, drought, and severe weather chill, showed the latest scenario on climate change. (english.thesaigontimes.vn May 12)