Hanoi (VNA) - A workshop was held in Hanoi on March 29 to discuss urban resilienceto extreme climate issues in Southeast Asia.
Doan Thi Tuyet Nga, Director of the Department of Science, Technology andInternational Cooperation under the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority (VDMA),said the goal of the workshop was to help participants understand the needs andissues of disaster prevention in Southeast Asia’s urban areas to propose plansin Vietnam.
At the workshop, jointly organised by the Asian Disaster Prevention Centre(ADPC) and the VDMA, participants discussed issues related to resilience forurban areas against extreme climate issues and proposed solutions to beimplemented in Vietnam.
This was a unique initiative aiming to find useful solutions and solvingproblems arising from climate change adversely affecting urban areas. Attendeessought to connect and call for the participation of relevant agencies, localauthorities and partners, according to Hans Guttman, Executive Director ofADPC.
Asian countries were at risk of natural disasters in urban areas that threateneconomic growth and development in the region.
The level of disaster risk was increasing rapidly due to complex changes inclimate and demographics, the impact of socio-economic development, as well asenvironmental degradation and urban expansion. This was reflected in the issuesof poverty, inequality and social problems.
The workshop will enhance the ability to share information and coordinate withcoastal provinces, including Nam Dinh city (northern Nam Dinh province) and My Thocity (the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang) - where ADPC chose to implementthis programme.
An on-going five-year programme on recovery of urban areas against extremeclimate issues in Southeast Asia was jointly implemented by the VDMA and ADPC,with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. - VNA