(VOVWORLD) - The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference on climate change response toward sustainability opened in Can Tho city on Monday. The 3-day event shows the global efforts of Vietnam and its contributions to ASEM creating the conditions for its Mekong Delta region to take the advantage of the support, assistance and cooperation of Asia-Europe partners in climate change adaptation and sustainable development.
 Wind turbines of the Dam Nai wind power plant in Ninh Thuan province (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam’s initiative to organize the conference has been supported by a number of countries including Australia, Denmark, Myanmar, Finland, and Italy. The event is the most important inter-regional meetings on climate change hosted by Vietnam in the framework of ASEM 2018.
Promoting ASEM cooperation in climate change response
The ASEM conference is of great importance for Vietnam as the country is accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement and Agenda 20 and Agenda 30 on Climate Change. It provides a forum for Vietnam to gain experience and boost cooperation in climate change response with ASEM member economies.
On the table for discussion are Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, solutions to climate change, opportunities for sustainable growth, shifting to a low-carbon economy, funding for climate change response and development, and climate change response in the context of the 4th industrial revolution.
ASEM member economies will discuss lessons and experiences in natural disaster response, sustainable water management, renewable energy, clean technology, and climate-change-response-agriculture.
Delegates will hold talks on the participation of stakeholders such as policy makers, enterprises, local administrations, funding organizations, socio-economic organizations, and foreign partners.
They have agreed on the need to strengthen Asia-Europe cooperation in climate change through technology transfer, networking, and a shared evaluation system.
Opportunities for Vietnam
Vietnam is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change. The Mekong River Delta is one of the world’s 3 deltas most vulnerable to sea level rise. Climate change is seriously threatening Vietnam’s food security and agriculture development.
In recent years, the Mekong River Delta and Can Tho city in particular have implemented several solutions and received foreign support to respond to climate change. The conference creates an opportunity for natural resource and environment experts to share and gain experiences in climate change response, renewable energy development, sustainable water resource management, and resource mobilization.