Action to stop rising sea levels

(Baonghean) - Climate change is a global issue that countries and territories around the world are concerned about. The theme of “World Environment Day 2014” is: “Take action to prevent rising sea levels”. Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Mr. Vo Van Ngoc - Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on a number of related issues.

Reporter:Sir! Rising sea levels and their consequences are a concern for many countries. So, could you please tell us about the risks, challenges and impacts of climate change on the world in general and on Vietnam, especially Nghe An in particular?

The breakwater runs through Quynh Long and Quynh Luu communes. Photo: Thanh Duy

Mr. Vo Van Ngoc:According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), “Climate change is a change of climate that is attributable directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and is observed over a sustained period of time”. The main cause of global climate change is the increase in human activities that cause excessive emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, overexploitation of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases such as biomass, forests, marine, coastal and other terrestrial ecosystems.

These changes have had and are having a direct impact on the global economic, social and environmental life. In recent years, many places in the world have suffered from many dangerous natural disasters such as big storms, prolonged heat waves, floods, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis and extreme climates, causing great damage to human life and property.

Vietnam is a country vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. According to the 2012 climate change scenario, by the end of the 21st century, temperatures may increase by 2.5 - 3,700C, sea levels may rise by about 1m, accordingly, about 39% of the Mekong Delta area, over 10% of the Red River Delta and Quang Ninh, over 2.5% of the Central coastal provinces and over 20% of the land area of ​​Ho Chi Minh City will be flooded. However, in reality, climate change, especially sea level rise, is occurring faster than forecast. We can see that in the recent past, natural disasters such as storms, floods, flash floods, landslides, inundation, droughts, and saltwater intrusion have caused significant damage to people and property, killing and leaving missing more than 9,500 people, with estimated property damage accounting for about 1.5% of GDP/year.

Nghe An is one of the provinces assessed to be most affected by global climate change.

According to the B2 medium emission scenario of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Nghe An is greatly affected by climate change and rising sea levels, such as: coastal erosion, loss of productive land and residential land of people in coastal areas, landslides and damage to irrigation works and coastal transport infrastructure... In the immediate future, it can be seen that there is an increase in salinity intrusion into rivers in the dry season and the salinity intrusion clearly affects land use in coastal areas. According to calculations by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the salinity threshold of 4‰ in Lam River can reach over 30 km in 2020 and Mo River, Thai River, Bung River can reach up to 6-7 km. Some communes of Quynh Minh, Quynh Luong, Son Hai, Quynh Nghia, Tien Thuy, Quynh Thuan, Quynh Long in Quynh Luu district; Dien Thanh, Dien Trung, Dien Hung, Dien Kim, Dien Bich, Dien Hai in Dien Chau district; Phuc Tho, Nghi Tien, Nghi Thiet in Nghi Loc district are at very high risk of salinity over 4‰. That is why we "Take action to prevent sea level rise" right now.

Reporter:Among the series of issues that have arisen recently, what activities has Nghe An province done to proactively combat and adapt to climate change?

Mr. Vo Van Ngoc:In recent times, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has advised the Provincial People's Committee to direct the implementation of many measures to proactively respond to climate change as follows:

First of all, it is to advise on the development of an action plan to respond to climate change in Nghe An province until 2015 and up to 2020, and at the same time, propose that the Provincial People's Committee direct relevant departments, branches and sectors to implement the plans, focusing mainly on tasks such as: Propagating to raise public awareness and improving capacity for management staff to meet the goals set out in the Prime Minister's National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change and Resolution 24/NQ/TU of the Politburo on Proactively Responding to Climate Change, Strengthening Resource Management and Environmental Protection; Integrating climate change response goals into planning, planning and implementing socio-economic development plans of the province as well as developing sectors and fields in Nghe An province; Promoting the implementation of the national target program on energy saving and efficiency in the province.

In addition, it is known that the province has been focusing on directing the construction of works to respond to climate change, prevent storms, floods and rising sea levels; Upgrading the sea dyke system of Nghe An. According to the national program, Nghe An has invested in upgrading about 42 km of sea dykes, and is upgrading the Ta Lam dike of Ca River, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen, Vinh sections. We are also carrying out procedures to propose the construction of a saltwater prevention sluice across Lam River at Ben Thuy and upgrading the irrigation system of Hoang Mai River...

Reporter:To continue implementing the action plan to respond and adapt to climate change and rising sea levels, what solutions does Nghe An province need for the next period, sir?

Mr. Vo Van Ngoc:Based on the Climate Change Response Plan approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 1395/QD-UBND.DC dated April 27, 2011, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant agencies are reviewing, updating, adjusting and supplementing strategies and action programs of the sector and localities taking into account climate change factors to adjust them to suit the natural conditions and socio-economic development of the province, period 2014-2020.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has advised the Provincial People's Committee to review short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions and plans to determine priority directions for implementation. In particular, focusing on key tasks: raising public awareness of climate change; organizing water management, especially in coastal areas; upgrading and repairing the dyke system, sea embankments, building new sluices to prevent salinity and retain fresh water; adjusting crop structure and agricultural production seasons; protecting and developing forests of all kinds; implementing solutions to control pollution and improve the environment; promoting propaganda, raising awareness of climate change prevention and adaptation and implementing programs and projects to proactively respond to climate change and rising sea levels. From there, mobilizing all levels, sectors and people to join hands in action. At the same time, the province continues to mobilize resources from the central budget, preferential loans, support from the World Bank, the German Reconstruction Bank, and non-governmental organizations to implement key investment projects to minimize the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels.

Reporter: Thank you!

PV