>> Public awareness of climate change increases

>> Climate change script reflects harsh realities

>> Vietnam\'s rice bowl threatened by rising seas

Experts say that if the sea level rises by just one metre, the damages to Vietnam and it\'s economy would equal 10% of the GDP.

A rise in sea level would threaten delta regions

“Vietnam is among countries hardest hit by climate change in the world. Its Mekong Delta region is one of three lowlands worldwide that are most seriously affected by the sea water rise,” said Dr. Tran Thuc, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Environment (IMHEN), at a recent meeting on the issue in Can Tho City.

Over the past 50 years the average temperatures in Vietnam have risen by about half a degree Celsius and the sea level in the region has risen by 20 centimetres. According to Thuc, this has caused increasingly severe storms and floods.

Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment\'s climate change scenario forecast that by the end of the century, the average temperature in the country may increase by between 2⁰C and 3⁰C.

The sea level may rise by from 75 centimetres to one metre, from recorded average between 1980 and 1999 , Thuc said.

“If the sea level rises by one metre, around 40% of the Mekong Delta, 11% of Red River Delta’s and 3% of areas in other coastal localities would be flooded. Up to 20% of HCM City could also be flooded. The flooding would negatively affect 10%-12% of the population and would also be a disaster for the economy,” Thuc warned.

In order to increase awareness of the seriousness of the situation, the institute has started an awareness campaign so as to improve citizens\' awareness about the effects of greenhouse gasses as well as possibilities for dealing with climate change.