An Giang (VNA) – As State fundingis insufficient, it is necessary to mobilise other resources, especially fromthe international community, businesses and non-governmental organisations, tohelp the Mekong Delta cope with climate change.
Secretary General and Vice Chairman of theVietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Don Tuan Phong made thestatement at a conference in An Giang province on November 28.
He said the Mekong Delta is one of the mostvulnerable regions to climate change’s impacts in Vietnam, facing issues likeerosion, mangrove degradation and subsidence.
Therefore, the mobilisation of financialresources is a key task for the region to adapt to climate change, he added.
Deputy Director of the Department ofMeteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change under the Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment Pham Van Tan suggested building a plan for the Deltato ensure sustainable, safe development and prosperity by the year 2100.
He recommended developing high-qualityagricultural products, ecological tourism, and the processing industry whileincreasing the value and competitiveness of agri-products.
Infrastructure needs to be improved in responseto climate change, he added.
Associate Professor, PhD. Le Anh Tuan, from theCan Tho University said the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh has builtcommunity-based capacity to tackle climate change.
He advised expanding effective cultivationmodels.
Ta Viet Anh, Board Chair of the Aid for SocialProtection Programme Foundation Vietnam (AFV), hoped the AFV projects onimproving living standards for people, especially women, in climate change affectedareas in the Mekong Delta will contribute to building community-based naturaldisaster prevention and mitigation plans.
Nearly 200 delegates including representativesfrom ministries and departments of 13 cities and provinces in the delta alongwith international organisations, non-governmental organisations, businessesand social institutions attended the conference.-VNA