Illustrative photo (Source: Internet)Hanoi (VNA) – Environmental experts and scientists gathered at a conference in Hanoi onNovember 7 to discuss measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change,investment opportunities in renewable energy, and tools to evaluate an environmentalstrategy in Vietnam.
The event was jointlyheld by the Vietnam Academy Social Sciences (VASS) and the UN DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP) in Vietnam.
VASS Vice President Dr Dang Xuan Thanh said that under the Law on EnvironmentalProtection, since 2014, all socio-economic works, strategies, and plans have hadenvironmental evaluations included.
He said that theconference is a chance for scientists and researchers to gain a betterunderstanding of the integration of climate change mitigation measures intosocio-economic strategies and plans in Vietnam.
According to a reportreleased in October by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, by theend of the 21st century, the globe will be 3 degrees Celsius warmer, which willcreate negative impacts on people’s livelihoods, the environment, andecosystems.
Currently, the globaltemperature has reached 1 degree Celsius warmer than before the industrialperiod started.
For Vietnam, globalwarming effects have been seen in increasing floods, reduced aquatic resources,and the disappearance of coral reefs and sea grass – all of which has greatly affectedthe livelihoods of people living on aquaculture.
Jiri Dusik from the UNDPVietnam said that carbon consumption in Vietnam remains high, leading todifficulties in implementing climate change commitments made at the 2015 UNClimate Change Conference.
He noted that greenhousegas emissions in Vietnam are predicted to increase three times over the2010-2030 period, adding that the majority of emission sources come from the energysector.
In 2030, Vietnam willhave 64 coal-fueled thermal power plants, most of which are located in coastalareas. They will seriously affect the maritime ecosystem and locals’ livelihoodsand living conditions, he said.
Dusik stressed theneed for Vietnam to replace traditional power sources with more renewableoptions, such as solar and wind power.–VNA
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