Combating Climate Change

At the seminar, Dr Pham Hoang Mai, Director of the Department for Science - Education - Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Planning and Investment presented the report on "Assessing the effectiveness of investment programmes and projects responding to climate change in Vietnam and the Mekong Delta from 2007 to present.” According to the report, climate change is a challenge for many countries in the world including Vietnam. Dr Pham Hoang Mai analysed that rapid economic growth has brought tremendous benefits. On the other hand, it is also bringing tremendous bad impact on the development of Vietnam in the future. The consequences of this process include natural resources exhaustion, especially water resources, environmental degradation, increase in the spread of infectious diseases, adverse impacts on human health, plants and animal life, reduced productivity of some crops, declining of biodiversity, disappearance of rare genetic resources, harsh natural conditions causing soil erosion, and bad impact on water supply, infrastructure and businesses.

 

Also, according to statistics by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in terms of vulnerability index due to climate change, Vietnam currently ranks 13th internationally among 16 countries most impacted by global climate change; the Mekong Delta region is particularly badly affected. According to calculations by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on climate change and sea level rise, if sea level rises by a metre, about 39 percent (nearly 1.6 million hectares) of the Mekong Delta will be flooded and about 35 percent of this area’s population (nearly 6.3 million) will be directly affected. Currently, the Mekong Delta has been affected by natural fluctuation and activities of the nations from Mekong River’s watershed. Specifically, in the annual flood season in the Mekong Delta, there are signs of abnormal fluctuations, flooding in urban areas with larger areas and longer time, landslides, storm surges accompanied by storms, tornadoes which occur more frequently. Prolonged hot weather affects agricultural production coupled with the sea water intrusion along with coastal provinces. Besides, hydropower projects on the Mekong Delta will become the major challenges and difficulties that the Mekong Delta will have to face in the near future.

 

Recognising the importance as well as unforeseen harsh consequences caused by climate change, since the Kyoto Protocol came into force in 2005, the Prime Minister issued Directive 35 on the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Resolution 60 of the Government assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to the national target program responding to climate change (2008), National Strategy on Climate Change (2011), National Strategy for green development (2012).

 

In addition, the Government along with departments of Vietnam is also proactively cooperating with other nations and international organisations which are supporting Vietnam with technology and finance in this regard. Up to now, Vietnam has raised nearly US$1 billion from donors and 62 priority projects of urgency on climate change have been approved by the Prime Minister. Particularly, some projects having good spread and performance. Specifically, in December 2013, The Dutch government submitted to the Government of Vietnam the Mekong Delta Plan with the goal of maintaining a prosperous plain both in terms of economy and society based on sustainable use of natural resources and better responding to challenges caused by climate change. In addition, the "Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in Vietnam" program sponsored by the Norwegian Government helps Vietnam continue to improve its institutional and technical capacity at national level and to implement REDD+ while piloting the implementation of REDD+ in some localities.

 

In addition, some models dealing with climate change in each sector include the "low-carbon agriculture" project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), “improving irrigated agriculture" project by the World Bank (WB), "adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta" model funded by JICA, "Effects of climate change on land use in the Mekong Delta - The adaptation of the rice -based farming system" project funded by ACIAR, System of Rice Intensification (SRI), and Coastal afforestation for adaptation to climate change in the Mekong Delta. According to experts through field deployment, the above projects have brought good results, contributing to the successful implementation of climate change response strategies and step by step building green agriculture with low emission and sustainable development in Vietnam.

However, as recommended by experts, to carry out projects effectively, methodically and thoroughly, the Vietnamese Government should urgently agree on the opinions and views to enact Climate Change Law and sub-law documents for better management of the issue.

 

Also, according to Dr Pham Hoang Mai, the Ministry of Planning and Investment is focusing on reviewing the overall system of policies on dealing with climate change; completing policies in the direction synchronous with the restructuring the economy, and transforming growth model focusing on depth, quality and efficiency. At the same time, the Ministry strengthens the state budget for responding to climate change. In particular, the Ministry also encourages organisations, individuals, domestic and foreign enterprises to support and invest in programmes and projects responding to climate change.