With the current increase rate of green house gas emissions, the earth’s temperature is likely to increase 3 to 5 DC by 2100 with serious consequences including polar ice melting, sea levels rising (about 60 centimeters more), and an increase of extreme weather globally. Vietnam ranks 3^rd among the 10 countries that will suffer the most serious consequences of climate change. Vietnam has undertaken several measures to cope with climate change including implementation of the National Strategy on Climate Change.

Vietnam makes strong commitments despite shortage of resources

Vietnam’s strong commitment to cope with climate change was evident at the 21^st UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that despite being a developing nation with shortages of resources, Vietnam pledged to cut 8% of its green house gas emissions by 2030 - 25% if it receives international support. Vietnam will contribute 1 million USD to the Green Climate Fund for the 2016-2020 period. Vietnam’s Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son said: “Countries need to respect the Convention on Climate Change and the different development levels of different countries, which means that developed, rich, and high-emitting countries must accept greater responsibility than poor and low-emitting countries who need financial help to cope with climate change”.

Vietnam touched on climate change response in the Mekong Delta at the Conference. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and World Bank Vice President Laura Tusk co-chaired the dialogue on response of Vietnam and its international partners to climate change in the Mekong Delta.

Activities to cope with climate change underway

A national conference on promoting the role of religions in environmental protection and climate change response coincided with the COP 21 in Paris. The Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Norwegian Church Aid co-chaired the conference. President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan said:“After this conference, religions will have their plans of action. Central religious organizations will work with local organizations to implement the plans. They will also work with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to disseminate the provincial action plan at the grassroots level. A review will be conducted at the provincial level after two years and at the national level after three years. Communications activities to raise the Vietnamese public’s awareness of climate change will be conducted”.

Over the years, Vietnamese sectors and organizations have responded to the National Strategy on Climate Change to ensure food and energy security, and water resources, reduce poverty, promote gender equality and social security, and protect natural resources. In this strategy, top priority is given to mitigating the effects of climate change on agricultural production, especially rice production in the Mekong Delta. Doctor Le Anh Tuan is Deputy Director of the Vietnam Research Institute for Climate Change at Can Tho University. He said: “We can shift to low-water-consuming plants and at the same time save water. We also need to help farmers restructure their crops”. To achieve green economic growth, Vietnam plans to take advantage of opportunities created by climate change to promote socio-economic development and join international efforts to cope with climate change. Vietnam has put in place several development plans, built disaster-resistant complexes, and worked out solutions to cope with natural disasters .