(VOVworld) – Climate change is having global effects. To protect human rights against climate change, Vietnam has focused on the rights of children, who are vulnerable to extreme weather and natural disasters. Vietnam’s representatives to the UN Human Rights Council presented this idea at the Council’s 34^th meeting in Geneva from February 28 to March 24.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc at the UN Human Rights Council

Vietnam’s climate change scenarios estimate that by 2100 the average temperature will be 2 DC higher than at the end of the 20^th century. The frequency of heat waves will double and the frequency of heavy rains and floods will also increase.

Children will be the most vulnerable group

Vietnam ranks 13^th of 170 countries in climate change effects over the next 30 years and is one of the 16 countries most at risk due to its poverty rate, dense population, and large areas prone to flooding and drought. The Mekong Delta is one of the world’s three most likely areas to lose land if the sea level rises. Approximately 1 million people are predicted to lose their habitat.

Vietnamese children will be drastically affected by climate change even though they are relatively remote from the causes of climate change. They will suffer from natural disasters – typhoons, storms, and extreme temperature – and social ills related to poor education, emotional stress, malnutrition, and poverty.

Child-centered climate change response policies

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc told the UN Human Rights Council about Vietnam’s child-centered climate change adaptation priorities, including policies to raise awareness of climate change impacts, and enhance international cooperation.

Vietnam has combined child rights with national climate change policy, implementation of the Paris agreement on climate change, and Agenda 2030 for sustainable development.