The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Sept 8 announced an action plan to cope with climate change from now up to 2015, Deputy Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong said. The VND140-billion plan, which is part of Vietnam’s national program on responding to climate change, aims to raise the awareness of climate change among industries, assess impacts caused by climate change and rising sea level to the sectors as well as control green house gas emission. Under the plan, the ministry will promote long and short-term projects of transferring green and eco-friendly technology to producers that occupy a large volume of fuels and energy, the state-run Vietnam News Agency cited Vuong as saying Sept 9. The ministry also called for effective use of energy, development of biological and renewable energy, promotion of clean products and sustainable consumption. Vuong added that the ministry would offer incentives to individuals and organizations to carry out the plan, especially in the development of new and renewable energy sources. The industrial sector is considered to be the most affected by climate change; however, it is also advantageous to apply technical advances to deal with the matter. Vietnam, which is listed among five countries worldwide that will be hardest hit by climate change, has launched a VND2 trillion ($104.7 million) program to cope with climate change between 2009 and 2015. About 10% of Vietnam’s population will be affected and the country will lose about 10% of its GDP if the sea water levels increase, scientists predicted. (vietnamplus.vn Sept 9, baodientu.chinhphu.vn Sept 8, vovnews.vn Sept 9)
