Low Carbon News in Vietnam in July 2014
Developing climate change resilient urban environment and infrastructure
Date: 30/07/2014
Prime Minister has approved the project “Developing Urban Environment and Climate Change Adaptation in Dong Hoi City – Quang Binh and Hoi An City – Quang Nam”. The project funded by the Asian Development Bank is set to last from 2015 to 2020 with the total cost of nearly US$130 million.
The main project activities include construction of sewerages for cities of Dong Hoi and Hoi An, improvement of climate change resilient infrastructure facilities in Bao Ninh area of Dong Hoi and Hoi An city and capacity building for organizations, local authorities and public service delivery system involved in urban environment.
Project helps Tra Vinh people adapt to climate change
Date: 29/07/2014
Authorities of the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh on July 25 launched a project worth 521 billion VND (24.5 million USD) to strengthen local people’s ability to adapt themselves to climate change.
The project targets sustainable livelihood for disadvantaged people living in rural areas who are most venerable to climate change and natural disasters.
From 2014 to 2020, it will be implemented in 30 communes of Tra Vinh’s seven districts to build climate change adaptation facilities, work out socio-economic development plans, implement sustainable agricultural production models suitable with salinity levels, and small-scale financial funds to provide capital to the poor.
Response to climate change from small actions
Date: 24/07/2014
The project to build response capacity, recovery and adaptation to disaster risk and climate for women and men (RADCC) implemented by Oxfam in Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh has achieved many successes in changing the perception and action of people on climate change.
New Zealand International Development Agency and the Government of Australia provided a funding through Oxfam to implement RADCC in 32 communes of Tien Giang, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh provinces. 1,000 officers of commune, district and province are beneficiaries of the project. The project prioritized poor women and poor female- headed households. It focused on livelihood activities for 12,000 people including 1,880 households and 40 poor households in pilot communes of the project.
So far, RADCC project disseminated information on climate change adaptation, natural disasters risk reduction for 70% of households in the pilot communes, in which about 50% of households are expected have positive behavioral change.
Model of reducing emissions from rice cultivation
Date: 17/07/2014
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Mekong Delta Institute for Research and Development in collaboration with the two cooperatives of Tan Hiep district (Kien Giang province) and Phu Tan (An Giang province) have implemented a project to help farmers reduce production costs and increase revenue.
According to this model, “one must” is to use certified rice seed, and “six reductions” include reducing the amount of water, post-harvest losses, seeding, pesticide use plants, fertilizer and greenhouse gas emissions.
Quang Binh earmarks US$38.8 million to cope with climate change
Date: 16/07/2014
Quang Binh provincial authorities on July 10 approved a plan on environmental improvement and urban infrastructure development to cope with climate change in Dong Hoi city, with total capital of US$38.8 million (Phase I).
The project is intended to reduce environmental pollution, improve urban environments and minimise impacts of climate change. It will also contribute to improved health conditions and quality of life for Dong Hoi’s residents. It aims to facilitate the development and integration of the city’s suburbs while boosting industrial, tourism, and services development in the locality.
3 universities teaching about climate change
Date: 16/07/2014
The project “Integrating the teaching of climate change (CC) in the university curriculum” is applied at 12 universities of the Mekong countries; in particular, 3 universities in Vietnam are Forestry University, Vinh University and University of Da Lat. The project is sponsored by United States Agency for international Development (USAID).
The program consists of four units of study: General knowledge of climate change; the social and environmental aspects of climate change; Land use planning to reduce emissions; Measure and monitoring of carbon.
Upcoming education on environmental protection and climate resilience
Date: 07/07/2014
Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has issued guidance for Departments of Education and Training, universities, colleges, ministry-attached research institutions and centers on developing the plan of environmental protection and climate resilience in 2015.
The plan includes design of syllabus, documents, lectures and videos on environmental protection and climate resilience for all levels of education and training. Besides, teachers are provided with professional development training courses and the teaching approach in integrating the plan contents into the curriculum.
WB provides US$270 million for power sector and climate resilience
Date: 07/07/2014
The World Bank’s Board of Directors (WB) has approved a US$200 million loan and a US$70 million credit for the Government of Vietnam to support power sector reform, climate resilience and low- carbon intensity development.
The US$200 million loan is aimed at supporting the power sector reform including the full commercial operation of Vietnam’s generation market; the participation of new generation companies in the market; turning power generation companies into independent companies and the implementation of regulations to move into a more transparent and predictable electricity tariff system.
In addition, the US$70 million credit will support the Government to handle climate change problems by adopting policies and improving institutional capacity in order to promote climate change resilience and low-carbon intensity development. The US$70 million credit covers three policy areas: better water management, energy efficiency, and policy and institutional development.