Quang said in an interview with Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that responding to climate change is an urgent and long-term task given Vietnam is one of the 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change by the end of the century.
The Mekong Delta - the country's largest rice granary - is among the three deltas hardest hit by climate change which is directly affecting 28 coastal localities and the Red River Delta.
The National Committee on Climate Change Response led by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and other agencies have developed strategies and plans of actions to realize the Party Central Committee's resolution on climate change and to boost natural resource management and environmental protection.
The National Assembly has also issued a resolution on climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta.
Quang emphasized the need to adjust climate change response scenarios for vulnerable localities until 2100 due to unpredictable climate developments, citing the Ben Tre province where the sea level is rising at higher-than-predicted rates.
With support from international organizations, Vietnam has undertaken various effective adaptation models in Quang Nam and Ben Tre provinces which will now be expanded to other localities.
Priority will be given to projects and programs on prevention of erosion by planting protective forests, upgrading sea dyke systems and addressing flooding in Hanoi, HCM City, Ben Tre and Ca Mau.
Vietnam will also participate actively in international conferences on climate change including the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris this year.
Quang emphasized the need to raise public awareness of climate change responses, encourage social responsibility and involvement of individuals and organizations in climate change initiatives.
He said greater attention is required in enhancing disaster forecast and warning capacity to mitigate disaster impacts, and the state should allocate more budget funds for issues related to climate change.
Source: Bernama | 9 March 2015
