Hanoi, 24 October 2009- Today, International Climate Action Day unites the world in the fight against climate change, an issue of grave importance to Vietnam as the region is already strongly affected by climate change. A lack of immediate action on climate change will come at great cost to the region, states a new WWF report on climate change.
Through the release of this new report, and in the months leading to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, WWF Vietnam is working to engage people in climate change and to increase Vietnam’s presence in the world forum. The success of awareness raising campaigns such as Earth Hour already show the commitment of the Vietnamese government and its citizens towards a climate change deal that will protect people and protect the planet.
Sea level rise is threatening the country’s coastal communities and changes to the climate are stressing ecosystems. A one-meter rise in sea-level could drastically devastate nine key biodiversity hotspots in the Mekong Delta alone.
Between 1951 and 2000, it is estimated that Vietnam’s average temperature has increased by 0.7°C. Such climate changes exacerbate current regional pressures such as habitat loss, poorly planned infrastructure and unsustainable natural resource extraction, further degrading ecosystems, threatening livelihoods, and undercutting the region’s social and economic future.
All sectors in Vietnam will be affected by climate change and adaptation measures must be integrated into existing development plans The most promising approaches are those that use natural ecosystem defenses to buffer development and livelihoods.
In its report, WWF recommends three key climate change adaptation strategies to reduce vulnerability across the Greater Mekong region, which includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and southwest China. These strategies include the protection of regional ecosystems, a reduction in non-climate related stresses such as unsustainable infrastructure and over extraction of natural resources, and the implementation of a regional climate change adaptation agreement.
“The Mekong Delta is one the most vulnerable deltas to climate change in the world and understanding these vulnerabilities and how healthy ecosystems can strengthen the ability of communities to cope with climate change is an important step toward adapting to climate change.” explains Trine Glue Đoàn, Climate Change Advisor for WWF Vietnam.
Regional cooperation will be a significant part of facing the threat of climate change.
For more information:
Jonathan De Luca
Communications Officer
WWF Greater Mekong – Vietnam Programme
39 Xuan Dieu Rd, Tay Ho dist., Hanoi
Tel. 84-4-3719 30 49, ext.136
Fax. 84-4-3719 30 48
E-mail: wwf.jonathan.deluca@gmail.com