Vietnam will need nearly $850 million per year to cope with impacts of climate change in the 2010-2050 period, the World Bank (WB) said in its latest study. Tran Thi Thanh Phuong, senior environmental specialist of the WB in Vietnam, released the figure at a recent conference on a national strategy on climate change by 2030, a vision for further development to 2050. The funding will be used for four main fields that are most vulnerable to climate change, comprising the agricultural sector with $160 million, infrastructure for anti-flood projects with $540 million, aquaculture with $130 million and seaport construction $12 million to mitigate the impacts. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) estimated that by 2100, the annual average temperature will likely rise by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius and sea levels may rise by one meter. Meanwhile, the magnitude and frequency of extreme climate change events such as storms will surge. Tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, heat waves or cold fronts may occur unpredictably. If the country does not take proper measures to consolidate dykes and sluices immediately, rising sea levels will likely inundate a total area of 30,945 square kilometers, equal to 9.3% of the ground surface of Vietnam, the ministry warned. These worsening figures could see the Mekong Delta, Dong Nai River basin, Ho Chi Minh City, Red River basin and other coastal regions completely submerged under water, it added. The impacts of climate change is showing clear signs in Vietnam with higher flood tides, more severe floods, droughts and salinity intrusion, experts said, urging all ministries, economic sectors and localities to immediately carry out a series of urgent action plans to cope with the matter. Other urgent tasks will also focus on developing green technology, encouraging use of renewable and clean energy, including wind, solar, developing flood maps with sea level rise scenarios, as well as reviewing irrigation and water resources management and planning for the Mekong Delta, Red River and hardest-hit areas by climate change. Many other nations like Japan, France, Denmark and Canada have committed to provide Vietnam with financial assistance and technology to adapt to climate change and mitigate the risk of natural disasters. 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. (english.thesaigontimes.vn Mar 22)
