Dutch authorities including those of Rotterdam City are willing to share experiences with Ho Chi Minh City in response to climate change, the state-run Vietnam News Agency said June 14. The commitment was made at a conference held June 14 by the city’s authorities, the Dutch Embassy and Vietnam’s Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development. Ho Chi Minh City and Rotterdam signed a Letter of Intent on adapting to climate change on May 27, 2009 during a two-day visit of the city’s leaders to the Netherlands. The participants hear schemes to cope with climate change and rising sea level and the city’s plan of moving towards to sea. Vice Mayor Nguyen Trung Tin said HCM City is one among ten cities worldwide to be hardest hit by climate change, emphasizing the urgency to effectively exploit marine resources. Rising temperatures and rainfalls submerged nearly 117 wards during the rainy season last year, said Dao Anh Kiet, head of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, adding that if sea level rises by 75cm in 2050, 10% of the city’s areas will be completely flooded. Deputy Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Dao Xuan Hoc said the city’s planning should be in the eastern direction as part of efforts to cope with climate change. Vietnam and the Netherlands also expect to boost bilateral cooperation in managing river basin, Hoc added. Vietnam is listed among five hardest-hit by climate change countries. If sea levels rise by one meter, 38% of the country’s delta and coastal areas will be submerged.
