Three Australian-funded projects on climate change mitigation and community development have initially proved effective in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. The view was at a working session between An Giang’s key officials and Wendy Conway Lamb, First Secretary of the Australian Embassy during the latter’s working visit on May 7. With the Australian Government’s assistance, the three climate change-related projects were carried out in 11 communes in the six districts of Tan Chau, An Phu, Tri Ton, Tinh Bien, Phu Tan and Thoai Son during the 2012-14 period. The working session reviewed the results of the projects’ various activities, including public awareness campaigns on climate change and training courses on natural disasters to improve the ability of the local population to respond to climate change impacts. Meanwhile, livelihood strategies focusing on agricultural production and animal husbandry were also developed, especially in remote areas. In addition, the projects have helped improve the local communities’ capacity to cope with and adapt to natural disasters. According to Vo Anh Kiet, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, along with the Australian-funded funded projects, the province set up an action plan for climate change adaptation from now to 2020 with a vision to 2030. An Giang province, one of four key Mekong Delta provinces, is prone to flooding and each year is heavily affected by floods from June to November. (Vietnam News May 8)
