Natural calamity creates huge loss to people in the south (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Religious organisations in Vietnam are engaging in a coordination programme on environmental protection and climate change response.
The steering committee for the programme debuted in Hanoi on April 15, with the participation of dignitaries of the 14 religions in Vietnam, officials of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Presidents of some local VFF chapters, and representatives of the Nordic Assistance to Vietnam organisation.
The steering committee, set up by the VFFCC, aims to promote religious dignitaries’ role in and contribution to environmental protection and climate change response efforts.
VFFCC President Nguyen Thien Nhan said environmental protection must be based on people, and it only becomes effective when people are fully aware of the benefits of protecting the environment.
As there are many religions in Vietnam, the steering committee has to take into account each religion’s features and local customs to carry out the coordination programme in an appropriate fashion, he said.
He also asked dignitaries of the 40 religious organisations nationwide to encourage their followers to protect the environment.
They should work closely with the VFFCC, the environment ministry and relevant agencies to monitor environmental protection and climate change prevention activities conducted by local State agencies, businesses and organisations. The strict supervision will help ensure the implementation of the law on environmental protection and the national target programme on climate change, he added.
According to international environment experts, Vietnam is one of the five countries most vulnerable to climate change, which is estimated to kill and injure 457 people and cause 1.9 billion USD damage on average each year.-VNA
