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A draft of a national strategy for climate change was presented to the nation at a recent seminar in Hanoi.

Mr. Truong Duc Tri at the seminar

More extreme climate may be more frequent and severe storms, floods and droughts.

The seminar, organised by the Ministry of Natural resources and Environment (MoNRE), together with the British embassy, addressed the issue.

By some estimates, in the year 2100 Vietnam’s average temperature may go up by between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius while its mean sea level may increase by over one metre.

Other effects of the more extreme climate may be more frequent and severe storms, floods and droughts. The impact on the the ecology, society and economy of Vietnam could be enormous.

The most susceptible areas will be those along the Red River and Mekong Delta.

According to Truong Duc Tri, Deputy Director of the MoNRE’s Hydrometeorology and Climate Change Department , the draft was aimed to increase awareness and modify people’s behaviour toward the environment. It is essential to gradually reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move towards more sustainable growth. Other conclusions from the seminar include ways to adapt to a changing climate.

Plans to draw up flooding maps, rearrange irrigation systems along the Red and Mekong River Deltas and upgrading dykes were also proposed.

The strategy takes from similar ones already in place in countries such as Australia, Denmark, Japan and the UK. The ministry plans to submit the draft to the government for consideration in the second quarter of this year.