Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) April 24 launched a $3.74 million project to upgrade infrastructure in response to climate change in the northern mountainous region. The project, using official development assistance (ODA) loans from the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), will be carried out in 15 provinces from 2013 to 2015. The project aims to mitigate the potential impacts of climate change and to boost policymaking for sustainable development in the provinces of Son La, Lang Son, Dien Bien, Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai and Lai Chau. The project also reviews current regulations concerning climate change, proposes ideas for institutional reform and encourages the combination of climate change adaptation with policy and rural infrastructure planning. Under the project, the localities above will build low-cost infrastructure models based on their available resources to mitigate the adverse effects of changeable weather. (Thoi Bao Kinh Te – Economic Times April 25 p3)
