Vietnam, UK seek cooperation in climate change

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Vietnam, UK seek cooperation in climate change
20/06/2008 -- 6:57 PM

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and the UK have discussed ways to promote bilateral
cooperation in coping with climate change and controlling environmental
pollution during a week-long visit by Minister of Natural Resources and
Environment (MONRE) Pham Khoi Nguyen.

While in the UK from June 12-18, Minister Nguyen held working sessions with
senior officials of the Department for International Development (DFID), the
Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), and the
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

At these sessions, the minister sought the UK support for Vietnam ’s pollution
reduction programmes and partners in dealing with climate change as well as
building an economy with less carbon dioxide emission level.

In an interview granted to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the UK ,
Minister Nguyen said the UK pledged to share experiences with and assist Vietnam
in weather forecast, enhance officials’ capability and technology and transfer
communications.

Sscientists have warned that Vietnam is one of the five countries that will be
hardest hit by climate change. As the world’s temperature is forecast to
increase by between one to three degrees Celsius in 100 years, Vietnam ’s sea
level will rise by one metre. If Vietnam does not have proper policies on
adaptation and mitigation of climate change, the country’s food output will
decrease by five percent as the two major rice baskets – the Mekong Delta and
the Red River Delta – are submerge in salt water.

The UK ranks Vietnam among its first priority countries for assistance and
support. The UK has helped Vietnam in coping with climate change, reducing
poverty and using new energy. The UK has also joined the donor community to
sponsor Vietnam ’s National Target Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and
Mitigation (NTP) and a plan to implement the programme.

Compiled by the MONRE, the programme is expected to be submitted to the
Vietnamese National Assembly for approval by the end of this year.-Enditem