Socio-political organizations have been called on to take greater part in raising public awareness of climate change and rising sea levels. These are posing a visible threat to Vietnam’s efforts to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, as about 50% of the country’s population lives along a coastline of more than 3,200 kilometers. Climate change that sparks various extreme weather patterns is wreaking great havoc globally, and Vietnam is one of the 30 countries in the world most vulnerable to the impacts of this global issue. At a seminar on the crisis in Hanoi on May 27, Nguyen Ngoc Ly, Director of the Community and Environment Research Centre, said there are challenges facing the implementation of State policies on climate change adaptation at various levels. Civil organizations’ participation in making sure the effective enforcement of environment-related laws and regulations is seen as an important element in ensuring the interests of the poor and vulnerable will be considered in policies on climate change. Many civil organizations have actively been involving in response programs, such as those identifying energy-efficient technologies for home appliances and industrial production and others helping farmers develop weather-resilient plant and livestock varieties and farming methods. A symposium in Hanoi on May 16 heard that Vietnam is acutely aware of environmental issues, and has thus enforced a lot of policies, including the national target program on building breakwaters in the southern and central parts of the country. The country’s Mekong Delta region, which groups 12 provinces and one centrally-run city, is particularly prone to environmental changes. In early May, it was reported that saltwater has intruded into nearly 20,000 hectares of rice fields in the southernmost province of Ca Mau as a result of the seawater level rising. (Vov.vn May 28)
