The Hanoitimes - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received outgoing Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen on June 18. Hailing concrete contributions of the Danish Ambassador to boost the Vietnam-Denmark relations in the recent years, the PM asserted that Vietnam attaches importance to the relationship with Denmark and will do its utmost to upgrade the relations more effectively, bringing benefits for both the countries. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (L) welcomes outgoing Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen. Vietnam and Denmark should work together for stronger trade, economic and investment partnership, raise two-way trade to a higher level and join hands in coping with climate change, he proposed. The Vietnamese Government always creates favourable conditions for businesses of both sides to exchange information and seek cooperation opportunities, he added. The PM noted that Vietnam has signed and negotiated for free trade agreements with a number of … [Read more...] about Vietnam wishes to receive more Danish ODA in climate change adaptation
Countries climate change
Award ceremony of photo festival and Reportage – Documentary film on environmental protection and climate change in the ASEAN community
(Cinet)- Award ceremony of photo festival and Reportage -Documentary film on environmental protection and climate change in the ASEAN community took place in Hanoi, on February 20. The festival with the theme “environmental protection and climate change in the ASEAN community ”, which has launched on July 17, 2013. After more than 5 months of launch, the Organisation Board received 536 photo and photo collection entries and 125 film entries from ASEAN countries. A collection of photos themed “the role of forest and climate change” by Vietnamese photographer Huynh Lam swept the first prize in the photo category. Meanwhile, “Jungle Beat” produced by the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation won the first prize in the reportage – documentary film category. Twenty-eight other outstanding works were also honoured. Minister of Information and Technology Nguyen Bac Son said that the event … [Read more...] about Award ceremony of photo festival and Reportage – Documentary film on environmental protection and climate change in the ASEAN community
Climate change impacts worsen in Mekong Delta
Scene at the conference (Photo: PanNature Facebook Page)CanTho (VNA) – The environment in Mekong Delta is severely beingaffected by hasher natural disasters, water pollution and natural resourcesdepletion, said a scholar.Ata workshop on climate change adaptation capacity building for the region heldin Can Tho city on December 28, Ho Thi Thu Ho from the Can Tho University attributedthese issues to global climate change, rough interventions in the Mekong River’scourse made by countries along the river, and low environmental awareness ofthe public.Agreeingwith Ho, Trinh Le Nguyen, Director of the Vietnamese NGO People and NatureReconciliation (PanNature), pointed to the worst drought in a century that hitthe delta last year. In 2017, the region went through its annual floodingseason, finding almost no resources coming from the upstream areas, he added.Upstreamdams have led to a reduction of alluvium, thus causing landslides across CaMau, An Giang, and Tien Giang, Nguyen … [Read more...] about Climate change impacts worsen in Mekong Delta
Japan offers loans for climate change, economic projects
Japan offers loans for climate change, economic projectsTu Hoang By Tu Hoang - The Saigon Times Daily HANOI – Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Hiroshi Fukada signed diplomatic notes about Japan supplying 25 billion yen, or some US$240 million, to finance climate change response and economic restructuring programs in Vietnam. Under the agreements, Japan pledged 10 billion yen for the climate change response project and 15 billion yen for the other. The official development assistance (ODA) loans are for the fiscal year of 2013. Vinh appreciated this support since Vietnam is suffering the most from climate change, while for the other project, the Government has been painstakingly restructuring the economy for higher efficiency. Given these diplomatic notes, the Ministry of Finance and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will sign two agreements on the two loan programs. Japan is the biggest ODA donor for Vietnam and is … [Read more...] about Japan offers loans for climate change, economic projects
US consulate announces climate change video contest
The US consul general in HCM City, Kenneth Fairfax, yesterday launched the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ second annual interactive video contest Change Your Climate, Change Our World at the city’s University of Natural Sciences. People all over the world aged at least 14 can submit videos of no more than two minutes in length containing any form of artistic expression. They will be judged on originality, creativity, effectiveness, and production quality. Four winners (one each in the 14-17 years and 18+ years categories from the US and outside) will receive the Grand Prize of an all-expenses paid, two-week cultural exchange trip. For non-US winners, this will be a trip to the US while for those from that country, the destination is yet to be determined. The contest will close on January 12 next year. The winners will be announced in March. Source: Viet Nam News … [Read more...] about US consulate announces climate change video contest
Positioning tourism on the climate change agenda
As negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP16) are held in Mexico, the role of tourism in combating global warming should once again be highlighted. A COP16 side-event, organized jointly by the Ministry of Tourism of Mexico and UNWTO, “Tourism’s response to climate change: What’s next?" has outlined the progress made by the sector to mitigate its impact and adapt to one of today’s biggest challenges (Cancun, Mexico, December 6). Opening the event, Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderón, stated that “tourism is perfectly compatible with the environment,” and that focus must be placed on tourism’s “environmental calling.” Mexico’s Minsiter of Tourism Gloria Guevara, addressing participants. Ms. Guevara pointed to Mexico as a country whose rich natural resources sustain a large part of its tourism activity, in turn representing “9% of Mexico’s GDP and over seven million direct and … [Read more...] about Positioning tourism on the climate change agenda
Project to improve resilience towards climate change in coastal areas Most Recent News
NDO/VNA – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) held a workshop in Hanoi on November 24 to launch a project on improving the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities towards climate change related impacts in Vietnam. The project worth more than US$29 million is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the UNDP and will be implemented during 2017-2022. It aims at raising resilience against the bad consequences of climate change in Vietnam through building safe homes, increasing the coverage of mangrove forests, and providing trustworthy information concerning climate risks. Accordingly, the project will help build 4,000 houses designed to resist flood and regenerate 4,000 ha of mangrove forests, and update information about losses of disasters and climate. The project is expected to benefit 28 coastal localities, with the focus on northern Nam Dinh province, central Quang Binh, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang … [Read more...] about Project to improve resilience towards climate change in coastal areas Most Recent News
Climate change is yet another poverty trap
VietNamNet Bridge – Ngo Truong Thi, Director General-Chief of the National Office for Poverty Reduction under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, speaks to Dai Doan Ket (Great Unity) newspaper on the importance of sustainable poverty alleviation. How do climate change and natural disasters impact the national programme of poverty alleviation?Natural disasters are a permanent threat to our country. Two thirds of the country’s topography is hills and mountains with a long coast. In addition, Vietnam has a hot and humid climate, greatly influenced by seasonal monsoons. Generally speaking all these factors aid the country’s economic development. However, they also present many challenges to national development including natural disasters, floods, flash floods, storms, droughts and saline intrusion.On average, one out of every three people who escape poverty falls back into the poverty trap. Severe natural disasters are part of why this happens. It … [Read more...] about Climate change is yet another poverty trap
One Planet Summit: greater efforts needed to mitigate climate change
The One Planet Summit, sponsored by France, the UN, and the World Bank, will draw 4000 delegates and 800 organizations to seek funding for climate projects. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that the world will spend 3.5 trillion USD a year to deal with global warming over the next 30 years. Mobilizing financial resources for climate projects is key to this effort. Postponement of action to mitigate climate change will not only lead to greater costs to address the effects, but will make the world poorer, less stable, less just, and less sustainable.Researchers for the Heinrich Boll Fund say it will cost the world at least 300 billion USD annually until 2030 to deal with the effects of climate change. Under the Paris agreement on climate change signed in 2015, countries pledged to collectively donate 100 billion USD a year until 2020 to help poorer countries pursue clean development and adapt to climate change. The World Bank has pledged to increase budgets for climate … [Read more...] about One Planet Summit: greater efforts needed to mitigate climate change
World Bank to continue helping Vietnam address rapid urbanization, climate change
During her first visit to Vietnam on Saturday, Ms. Tuck said “Vietnam’s transformation from one of the poorest country to a middle-income country in just three decades is an inspiration to many countries around the world. The World Bank looks forward to continue its close partnership with Vietnam to ensure this growth is inclusive, sustainable and climate-resilient.” In Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Tuck witnessed the development impacts brought about by World Bank-funded projects. She then traversed the Mekong Delta through Ben Tre province to see first-hand the impacts of climate change on the lives, livelihoods and assets of communities. During her meeting with leaders from Can Tho City, Ms. Tuck discussed the role of cities in the transformation of the Mekong Delta, a region with high population density, and the importance of strengthening urban resilience. … [Read more...] about World Bank to continue helping Vietnam address rapid urbanization, climate change