The Vietnamese government will continue boosting the implementation of the Unedited Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), and the Kyoto Protocol signed in 1997, to cope with climate change, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat. Phat made the statement at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP16) which took place in Mexico’s southeastern city of Cancun from Dec 8-11, the Voice of Vietnam Radio reported Dec 12. He emphasized Vietnam’s efforts to actively carry out its national target program to respond to global climate change, mitigate its impacts, save energy, boost renewable energy use and afforestation as well as move towards a low carbon economy. During the event, Phat, head of the Vietnamese delegation to COP 16, also called on the parties to the UNFCC and the Kyoto Protocol to join hands with the international community to cope with the global climate change. These countries should reach an agreement on the extended “Reduce Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries” (REED+) mechanism, take effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emission, preserve biodiversity and use natural resources sustainably, he elaborated. Within the COP 16’s framework, the Vietnamese delegation held talks with delegations from ASEAN countries, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Korea and the U.S. as well as international organizations. Vietnam and its partners agreed to boost cooperation and exchange experiences in policy making and investment in green technology, effective land use and management, infrastructure development and natural resource preservation to ensure sustainable development, he added. The Vietnamese government is calling on the international community to support it to cope with climate change that is showing clear signs across the country. Vietnam is listed among five hardest-hit countries by climate change. If sea level rises one meter, 5% of Vietnam’s land, 11% of its population and 7% of its agricultural land would be affected with the losses estimated at 10% of GDP. (vovnews.vn Dec 12, vietnamplus.vn Dec 10)
