Vietnam Seeks Closer Int’l Cooperation in Sustainable Delta Development

Vietnam will work with other countries to develop its river basins and deltas sustainably amid climate change, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Thai Lai said at a recent conference in Ho Chi Minh City. The statement was made at the 2013 World Deltas Dialogues, which attracted 300 policymakers, experts and scientists from Sub-Mekong region and other nations to seek solutions to some of the most acute challenges in Vietnam and its delta, as well as the greater Mekong River system. Deputy Minister Nguyen Thai Lai raised concerns over the negative impacts of rising sea levels in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta and water-related problems such as salt water intrusion and called for international cooperation in addressing this issue. Climate change scenarios in Vietnam showed that if sea level rises by one meter by 2100, 40% of the Mekong Delta area will be submerged, seriously harming agriculture, fishery production and livelihood of millions of local people and food security of Vietnam and its neighboring countries such as Lao, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Delegates at the conference discussed long-term issues concerning the development and ecosystem balance in the Mekong Delta, experience in climate change response in the Mississippi Delta and how to adapt to flooding in the Mekong Delta region and coastal areas of Vietnam. The Delta 2013 Vietnam, themed “Solutions for the Ecosystem ahead of unforeseeable aftermaths,” was co-held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, America’s Wetland Foundation (AWF), the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City and the Dutch and US Embassies in Vietnam. (Nhan Dan – The People May 22, Thanh Nien – Young People May 22 p7, vov.vn May 22)