The Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has officially announced a national climate change strategy; and a climate change and sea level rise scenario for the country. The national strategy is aimed to provide a strong foundation for formulating long-term socio-economic development plans amid the climate change challenges, MoNRE Minister Nguyen Minh Quang said at a the announcement ceremony in Hanoi March 7. The Vietnamese government has ratified the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol and is finalizing legal documents on the control and mitigation of natural disasters, Quang attributed. The strategy will enable Vietnam to develop and replicate on a trial basis a community-based climate change adaptation model. The strategy also outlines overall objectives, prioritized projects to be implemented in 2011-2015, and plans for 2016-2025 as well as objectives for 2050, with a vision to 2100. It also identifies strategic tasks to tackle the global climate change. The climate change and sea level rise scenario for Vietnam was built basing on the estimates of greenhouse gas emissions, in order to develop and implement action plans by ministries, departments and localities to minimize the negative impacts of changing weather, he added. Vietnam is one of the countries to be hardest hit by climate change. If sea level rises one meter, 5% of the country’s land, 11% of its population and 7% of its agricultural land would be affected with the losses estimated at 10% of GDP. In the coming times, the ministry will hold a conference to call on foreign firms to invest in infrastructure projects in the field of climate change response. Also at the event, the international community hailed Vietnam’s efforts in dealing with global climate change, adding that they will continue providing financial and technological assistance in the field for Vietnam. Climate change is a real threat to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development, experts said, adding that Vietnam will need some $850 million per year for climate change projects from now to 2050. (Nhan Dan – The People Mar 8, Tuoi Tre – Youth Mar 8, Ha Noi Moi – New Hanoi Mar 8, vov.vn Mar 7)
