Authorities in Vietnam’s central province of Thua Thien-Hue on Oct 22 launched a project on climate change adaptation using EUR8 million from the Luxembourg government. The project totaling EUR10 million is scheduled to be implemented in 29 low-lying coastal areas in the three districts of Quang Dien, Phu Vang and Phu Loc from 2013 to 2017. The project aims to raise the public awareness of climate change, ease the impacts of storms and floods and improve livelihoods of the locals. Thua Thien-Hue is among the central coastal regions to be hardest hit by climate change, which is regarded as a real threat to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development. If sea level rises one meter, 5% of the country’s land, 11% of its population and 7% of its farmland would be affected, causing a total loss of 10%-11% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). (Tien Phong – Pioneer Oct 23 p3)
