Low Carbon News in Vietnam in October 2014
Hau Giang: 38 priority projects responding to climate change
Date: 29/10/2014
Hau Giang Provincial People’s Committee has released the list of 38 priority investment projects responding to climate change (CC) in the province. Among them, 30 projects have been launched in the Province’s Action Plan responding to CC and 8 other projects are new proposals.
The typical projects of 38 projects listed above include: Project of building water prevention sluice gate system for the South Xa No canal to prevent the situation of saltwater intrusion, keep fresh water and prevent flooding for the fields of the South Xa No canal at a cost of 298 billion VND; Project of planning and building the ecological freshwater lake of Hau Giang Province to solve the lack of freshwater supply for Vi Thanh city at a cost of 465 billion VND; Project of embankments against erosion and flooding of Nga Bay, Hau Giang Province to prevent landslides and flood at a cost of 696.4 billion VND….
Project helps Asian cities boost climate change resilience
Date: 27/10/2014
A seminar was held in Hue city in the central province Thua Thien-Hue from October 21-23 to review the Mekong-Building Resilience to Climate Change in Asian Cities (M-BRACE) project in the 2011-2014 period.
The project was implemented in four cities of the Greater Mekong Sub-region, namely Hue and Lao Cai city in Vietnam, and Phuket and Udon Thani in Thailand.
Studies show that Vietnam is one of the five countries most vulnerable to climate change, which negatively impacts on production, especially agriculture, and the economy in general. The project outcomes will help local authorities clarify priorities for future efforts to adapt to climate change.
Using the experience generated during the first phase, Thua Thien-Hue will continue the second phase of project implementation in an effort to improve its climate change resilience.
Energy emissions the most greenhouse gases
Date: 13/10/2014
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has introduced the lattest national greenhouse gas inventory report (GHG). Accordingly, the total GHG emission and absorption of the whole country is 246.8 million tonnes of CO2. Of those, the energy sector is the area with the highest GHG emissions accounting for 53.1% and the agriculture sector accounts for 33.2% of the total.
The National greenhouse gases Inventory Report is done at the request of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2011 (COP17). Accordingly, the developing countries need to build a National Communication (NC) every four years and biennial update reports (BUR) every two years. The national GHG inventory is a mandatory part of this report.
The construction of the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Vietnam has developed a system of national GHG inventory. Legal framework of conducting inventory of GHG nationwide has been implemented in 2010.
It is expected that the report will be sent to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2014.
Can Tho seeks to investment in upgrading urban to adapt to climate change
Date: 13/10/2014
Can Tho city proposed World Bank to support the implementation of upgrading urban infrastructure in Can Tho City and Mekong River Delta to adapt to climate change.
The project in Can Tho city contains six components: Construction of the urban flood inundation; priority infrastructure, transportation connections; environmental sanitation; urban upgrading; construction of resettlement areas; technical assistance and management capacity building.
The project will be implemented in six districts of Ninh Kieu, Cai Rang, Binh Thuy, O Mon, Thot Not and Phong Dien. The seven-year project has a total estimated investment of around 321.5 million USD, with 250 million USD coming from the WB’s International Development Association. It is estimated that the project will benefit 200,000 people in six districts.
Climate change adaptation to be socio-economic development indicator
Date: 10/10/2014
Ms. Truong Thi Mai – Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs at the 32nd session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on October 8 suggested that climate change adaptation should be a socio-economic development indicator. At this session, the National Assembly Standing Committee focuses on the implementation of policies and laws on the prevention of climate change (CC) in the Mekong River Delta (MRD)
Policy development and climate change mitigation through attracting international resources
Date: 09/10/2014
The Prime Minister has approved amendments to the framework of the Support Program to Respond to Climate Change (SP-RCC).
Accordingly, the program will continue to be implemented from 2014 to 2020 with the capital mainly coming from preferential official development assistance (ODA) or non-refundable ODA funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the French Agency for Development, the World Bank, the Export-Import Bank of Korea, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and several other development partners.
The overall objective of the Programme is to support the formulation and implementation of strategies, policies and programs responding effectively to negative effects of climate change in Viet Nam.
Quang Ninh builds a community-based adaptation to climate change model
Date: 07/10/2014
On October 1st the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has just issued a Decision on approving the project “Building community-based model applying technical solutions to reduce risk and increase the adaptation to climate change “.
The €73,505-project of which €61,400 is funded by the Finnish Government has been implementing from July 2014 to June 2016. The project is to raise awareness and adaptive capacity for the community of Ngoc Vung and Minh Chau, Van Don district, Quang Ninh province on climate change and impacts of climate change to the social – economic and environmental activities. It also aims to build a model to prevent land degradation, conservation and use of local plant genetic resources to adapt to drought and storms.
Nam Dinh enhances adaptive capacity to climate change
Date: 02/10/2014
From the beginning of April 2011 to now, Vietnam Red Cross, the Japanese Red Cross Society and International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement has implemented an international project “Mangroves – Minimize catastrophic risk”. The project will help enhance capacity building for local officials, residents of three coastal districts in Nam Dinh province in respond to climate change, the impact of natural disasters and promote the role of official, members and volunteers. In the coming time, training courses on climate change prevention, risk reduction for teachers, students in primary schools will be organized.
Along with this project, in 2014, the provincial Red Cross Society is implementing the project “Forest and Plains” funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Winrock International to implement climate change adaptation activities in 9 communes of three coastal districts of Giao Thuy, Hai Hau and Nghia Hung in Nam Dinh province.
France helps Vietnam cope with climate change
Date: 02/10/2014
On September 30, Mr. Jean-Noël Poirier – French Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Truong Chi Trung – Deputy Minister of Finance and Mr. Rémi Genevey – Director of Vietnam Office of the French Agency for Development (AFD) signed a credit agreement in Hanoi providing 20 million euro in preferential loans in support of a continuing programme to develop a long-term governmental climate change adaptation strategy for Vietnam. The fourth support has made up the total commitment of AFD ‘s support for SP-RCC program up to 80 million euro.
Response to climate change is one of the strategic directions of the AFD operations in Vietnam. Earlier, in the period 2006 – 2013, AFD has provided Vietnam grants with a total amount of 382 million euro for 14 development projects that helped respond to cope with climate change and adapt to the impacts of climate change.