(VOVworld)- Fifteen initiatives aiming to protect the environment and improve people’s livelihood and living standards were introduced at a workshop-exhibition in Hanoi on Thursday.

One of the initiatives introduced at the workshop-exhibition (Source: motthegioi.vn)

These initiatives, mostly focusing on solar and wind energy, LED lights and smart agriculture, are funded by the Global Environment Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Addressing the event, Haoliang Xu, Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific, said the community is the first to be hit by climate change but has less capacity to cope with the issue. He said national efforts in reaching sustainable development should be propelled by local initiatives, along with international cooperation. Haoliang Xu said that local authorities play an important role in providing financial aid and creating favourable conditions to replicate the initiatives in order to raise public livelihood and help them adapt to climate change and protect the environment. He said the UNDP promised to coordinate with all relevant sides to encourage green initiatives and promote the replication of the initiatives.