Communication work vital to climate change response: PM

Communication work plays the leading role in climate change response as public awareness of this issue still remains inappropriate, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Speaking at the seventh session of the National Committee on Climate Change in Hanoi on April 19, the Government leader called for comprehensive and long-term solutions to the problem, which, he said, should also centre on specific areas and base on scientific foundations.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is also the committee’s Chairman, urged ministries, agencies and localities to pay heed to revamping their units in charge of climate change combat, and completing their policy and law systems in order to mobilise and diversify resources for the hard struggle.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at the working session

Another important job is to restructure the economy, focusing on projects on developing green growth and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) was asked to promptly update climate change and sea level rise scenarios in Vietnam in the time ahead and study climate change’s impacts on key spheres, particularly agriculture and rural areas.

The PM also requested the ministry to continue integrating climate change into planning strategies in major areas, improve the forecast quality and seek international resources for the work.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was asked to prioritise irrigation solutions for the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands regions, which have been hardest hit by drought and saline intrusion as a result of climate change.

Climate change is a big issue which has been defined as one of the Government’s central and long-term tasks, PM Phuc affirmed.

MoNRE Minister Tran Hong Ha said the fight against climate change is facing a range of challenges as extreme weather patterns are developing complicatedly and unexpectedly, requiring macro solutions.

The committee’s report added an array of hindrances, including limited finance and shortcomings in integrating climate change into planning strategies.

MARD Minister Cao Duc Phat called for the involvement of the entire population in the combat and underlined the need to increase forecast capacity and step up international cooperation in this field.

Other delegates at the event proposed accelerating scientific and technological applications and learning from experience of foreign countries like the Netherlands in responding to climate change.

They also suggested establishing database centres, compiling climate change manuals and promoting the use of renewable energies.