PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosts a reception for Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag, Ha Noi, February 6, 2018 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu The PM expected that the visit will create marks in promoting the two nations’ Comprehensive Partnership more effectively and synchronously with Strategic Partnership Arrangement on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management in 2010 as well as the Strategic Partnership Arrangement on Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in 2014. The Ambassador hailed the two countries’ active preparations for celebrating the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic ties, expecting that the two Governments and people will tighten the cooperative relations, heading to the future period for the joint prosperity. She announced that a number of Dutch businesses joining her delegation desire to seek for further investment in Viet Nam not only in such areas as climate … [Read more...] about VN, Netherlands enhance cooperation in climate change adaption, start-ups
Climate change
World’s biggest miner BHP to exit global coal body over climate change policy
The world's biggest miner BHP said Tuesday it would leave the World Coal Association and review its membership of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to show support for action against climate change. The Anglo-Australian giant has been reviewing its industry group memberships to see if their stances align with its view that climate change must be tackled through emissions reductions and the use of renewable energy. A 22-page report released Tuesday found that the organisations as well as the Minerals Council of Australia held different positions from BHP, which derived just under 20 percent of its total revenue from coal in the year ended June 2017. BHP's chief external affairs officer Geoff Healy said the report demonstrated the firm's support for action on climate change and commitment to transparency. "While we won't always agree with our industry associations, we will continue to call out material differences where they exist and we will take action where necessary, as we have done … [Read more...] about World’s biggest miner BHP to exit global coal body over climate change policy
Winners of photo contest on climate change announced
At the ceremony The contest, launched by the NHS and the Vietnam Photo Newspaper, received more than 1,000 single photos, collections and reportages from over 100 Vietnamese professional and amateur photographers both at home and abroad. Topics focus on impacts of the nature, people cooperating in the context of climate change, and efforts to mitigate the consequences of natural disasters to serve sustainable development. The contest was part of the activities marking the 50th anniversary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)/World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Typhoon Committee and the 50th session of the committee to be held in Vietnam in 2018. At the event, the organizing panel presented the first prize to photographer Hoang Anh for his work entitled "Living with floods". Additionally, two second, three third and 5 consolation prizes were awarded, together with a special prize for the favorite audience choice. Translated by Lam Anh … [Read more...] about Winners of photo contest on climate change announced
Climate change caused by more carbon dioxide emissions leads to more flower blooms in tropical forest: study
The study led by Stephanie Pau, an assistant professor of geography at the U.S. Florida State University, revealed a surprising link between the surging atmospheric carbon dioxide and flower blooms in tropical forests on Panama's Barro Colorado Island, a 1,560-hectare island located in the man-made Gatun Lake in the middle of the Panama Canal. The findings of the study were contained in a paper published in the journal Global Change Biology. Pau said the tropical forests that have evolved over millennia to flourish in warm, equatorial conditions may be more sensitive to subtle climatic changes than some ecologists had predicted. She said her team has noticed that the tropical forests produced more flowers in response to rising temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions over the past several decades. She collected a large amount of plant materials from the island over 28 years, which enabled her and her team to study how climatic elements, such as temperature, rainfall, light and carbon … [Read more...] about Climate change caused by more carbon dioxide emissions leads to more flower blooms in tropical forest: study
APPF 26 calls for more actions to address climate change
Delegates debated ways to enhance joint action responding to climate change and foster cultural and tourism cooperation in the region, and talked about resources for sustainable development. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the third plenary session, APPF-26 (Source: APPF-27 organiser) "It’s neccesary for each nation to create its own legal corridors, institutions, policies, as well as to define resources of priority to cope with climate change in accordance with international principles, Conventions, and Protocols. Joint efforts among nations are much needed. Developed countries should support developing ones in terms of both finance and knowhows. Cooperation among the government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations in this field also needs to be strengthened", said Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam in his keynote speech. Senator Loren B. Legarda, Chairperson of the Philippines’ Senate Committee on … [Read more...] about APPF 26 calls for more actions to address climate change
APPF-26 resolved to combat climate change for sustainable development
Developing countries need support from developed nations in respect of financial resources, knowledge as well as their experience in order to meet sustainable development goals (SDGs), has said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam Expansion of joint actions on climate change response and the resources for sustainable development was at the top of the agenda at the third plenary session of the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) in Hanoi on January 20. In his speech at the session, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam stressed the necessity for countries to join forces in the struggle against climate change. 'There should be increased cooperation between the government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations in realizing sustainable development goals (SDGs). It is necessary to build a perfect legal system that clarifies the rights and responsibilities of organizations and individuals and priotizes resources for … [Read more...] about APPF-26 resolved to combat climate change for sustainable development
Vietnam’s Mekong Delta residents internally migrate due to climate change: researches
Climate change is costing people their livelihoods, leading to an internal migration crisis in the Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam, studies have shown.The Mekong Delta is a tremendous area of over 3.9 million hectares, famed for its fertility and contribution to domestic and global agriculture, aquaculture and economy.This region, hosting thirteen provinces, is also known as Vietnam’s Southern Plains in the local geographical terms, or mien Tay (the West) as the locals warmly call it.Due to severe climatic impact, however, its 18 million residents are economically at stake, with many internally migrating in the hope of better life.In the last 10 years, the internal migration rate in the Mekong Delta has been double that of the national average, with 1.7 million leavers and merely 700,000 new settlers. When climate hits, livelihoods sufferThe Deltas, Vulnerability & Climate Change: Migration & Adaptation (DECCMA) project, a large-scale project aimed at analyzing the … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Mekong Delta residents internally migrate due to climate change: researches
UN praises G77’s role in multilateralism, development, climate change
Guterres told a handover ceremony of the G77 chairmanship from Ecuador to Egypt that the G77 has been a central pillar in defending multilateralism and making sure that development remains in the centrality of the action of the United Nations. The two largest economies of the G77 - China and India - are strongly committed to assuming the leadership in climate action to reduce the dramatic and devastating impacts of climate change.The G77 at the United Nations is a coalition of developing nations, designed to promote its members' collective economic and political interests. … [Read more...] about UN praises G77’s role in multilateralism, development, climate change
IMF: Greener growth could reduce climate change risks
Every year since 1990, natural disasters have cost Vietnam on average about 1 per cent of GDP and caused some 500 casualties. It was affected by 12 major storms last year, which caused deadly floods and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes and hectares of crops.Vietnam’s vulnerability is exacerbated by its 2,150-mile-long coastline and proximity to the tropics. Its 95 million people and the bulk of its economic assets, including a large rural population, are concentrated in the coastal lowlands, which are susceptible to typhoons.The IMF believes climate change will likely exacerbate pressure on the environment. More frequent and more intense storms could affect crop yields and production, impacting rural incomes, food security, and commodity exports.Increased rainfall intensity will damage roads and railroad networks. Higher temperatures will raise demand for electricity. Risks will weigh disproportionally on the poor, who could be forced to migrate inland or towards large … [Read more...] about IMF: Greener growth could reduce climate change risks
Weather project helps minority women battle climate change
VietNamNet Bridge – The climate in the valley of Muong Phang in the mountainous Dien Bien Province is no longer as it was over previous centuries. But the change has brought some benefits to local farmers.The valley, roughly 21 km to the northwest of Dien Bien Phu City, has gotten warmer over the last decade. The ethnic minority families who were born and grew up in the valley, in poverty, had relied mainly on a single summer-autumn rice season to make a living as the winter was too cold to plant anything. Now they have managed to double their incomes as the rising average temperatures in the coldest months allowed another rice harvest in winter and spring.This kind of climate change is, of course, not all good news. Alongside warmer temperatures, it has brought about more flash floods that bury the village under mud, unexpected drops in temperatures, hoar frost that freezes crops and heavier rains that flood the fields.It became harder for the locals, who had little idea about … [Read more...] about Weather project helps minority women battle climate change