(VOVworld) – Vietnam will be one of 30 countries to suffer adverse impacts of climate change in the next 30 years, says the United Nations.

The conclusion was based on the Climate Change Vulnerability Index which comes from the analysis of 42 social, economic, and environmental factors to assess risks. According to the Vietnam National Strategy on Climate Change, without timely interventions including dyke reinforcement and drainage system improvement, the average sea level rise of 1 meter in coastal areas will cause serious flooding in about 17,500 square kilometers or 5% of Vietnam’s total land area.

33 out of 63 provinces and 5 out of 8 economic zones will be threatened by severe flooding with the most seriously affected being Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Hau Giang, and Soc Trang province

 in the Mekong Delta region. By 2050, 1 million Mekong Delta residents are likely to migrate due to alternating droughts and floods.