Responding to climate change

(Baonghean)Climate change is manifested through global warming, changes in rainfall patterns leading to the occurrence of extreme weather events and negative impacts, with rising sea levels being one of the most significant consequences. According to research, Nghe An province, with its 82 km of coastline, is heavily impacted by rising sea levels.

Farmer Vo Dinh Giang, from Hamlet 7, Nghi Tien Commune (on the left), stands beside his withered rice field.

Upon investigation, it was learned that as early as May 7th, the People's Committee of Nghi Tien commune had developed a plan for the summer-autumn crop on an area of ​​115 hectares. All necessary preparations, including fertilizers and seeds, had been made. However, on June 2nd, the commune had to hold a meeting to decide to cancel the summer-autumn planting and switch to the early autumn crop. “145 hectares of rice fields in the commune draw water from the Cam River, and the remaining 40 hectares draw water from the Khe Nuoc dam. But for several months there hasn't been a single drop of rain, nor has there been any early summer flood, and the Cam River water is saline, making production impossible. The Khe Nuoc dam is also running dry, leaving the remaining area fallow. Now we can only rely on the early autumn crop, but even that is uncertain as it depends on whether or not it rains,” worried Mr. Luu Quang Thuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghi Tien commune. Speaking about the impact of climate change, especially the effects of saltwater intrusion into rivers, Mr. Thuong added: "From 2009 to the present, irrigation water has been affected by salinity every year, so the area planted during the summer-autumn crop has gradually decreased. For example, in 2013, the whole commune cultivated 105 hectares, but only 70 hectares were harvested, and rice yields were also significantly lower than in the spring crop."

The above situation is not unique to Nghi Tien. According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghi Loc district, due to the impact of climate change, the weather is becoming more erratic. Droughts during the summer-autumn crop season have become more frequent and severe in recent years. Many areas, mainly the communes along the Cam River and the semi-mountainous regions, lack water for daily life and irrigation. In particular, due to the lack of water in the Cam River, saltwater intrusion is occurring, putting communes located along or at the end of the Cam River, such as Nghi Quang, Nghi Yen, and Nghi Tien, in an unavoidable situation where the summer-autumn and main crop seasons are uncertain due to the lack of irrigation water. "The Cam River section from Cam Bridge to Nghi Quang weir recently measured a salinity of 1%, or 10‰, while a salinity of less than 2‰ is necessary to ensure irrigation for rice," said Mr. Nguyen Duc Tho, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nghi Loc.

The increase in saltwater intrusion into rivers during the dry season and its impact on land use in coastal areas of Nghe An province has been a long-standing issue. According to the Nghe An Irrigation Department, in 2010, saltwater intrusion, also known as salinity intrusion, extended almost to Nghi Van commune (Nghi Loc district) on the Cam River. Also in 2010, on the Lam River, salinity intrusion extended as far as Hung Xuan commune (Hung Nguyen district). Mr. Pham Huu Van, Deputy Head of the Nghe An Irrigation Department, stated: “Given the drought conditions, the Irrigation Department always advises irrigation companies and local authorities to monitor water salinity before pumping for irrigation.”

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's B2 average emission scenario, the impact of climate change, including sea level rise, on Nghe An province is significant. Nghe An will not only suffer from saltwater intrusion but also coastal erosion, loss of agricultural and residential land, and damage to irrigation works and coastal transportation infrastructure. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's calculations predict that the 4‰ salinity threshold in the Lam River could reach over 30 km by 2020, and in the Mo, Thai, and Bung rivers, it could reach 6-7 km. Several communes in Quynh Luu district (Quynh Minh, Quynh Luong, Son Hai, Quynh Nghia, Tien Thuy, Quynh Thuan, Quynh Long), Dien Thanh, Dien Trung, Dien Hung, Dien Kim, Dien Bich, and Dien Hai, Dien Chau district (Quyen Chau district), and Phuc Tho, Nghi Tien, and Nghi Thiet, Nghi Loc district (Nghi Loc district) face a very high risk of salinity exceeding 4‰. We have even more reason to worry when a report from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment indicates that, over the past 50 years, the average annual temperature has increased by about 0.7 degrees Celsius, and sea levels have risen by about 20 cm, faster than predicted. By the end of the 21st century, global temperatures could rise by 2.5-3.7 degrees Celsius, and sea levels could rise by about 1 meter.

Faced with the challenges of climate change in general and sea level rise in particular, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Nghe An province has advised the Provincial People's Committee to direct the implementation of many measures to proactively respond to climate change. First, the province has developed an action plan to respond to climate change in Nghe An until 2015 and extending to 2020. In addition, it has strengthened communication efforts to raise community awareness and improve the capacity of management officials to meet the objectives set out in the Government's National Target Program on Climate Change Response and Resolution No. 7 (11th Party Congress) on "Proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection".

Simultaneously, various sectors are integrating climate change response goals into the planning and implementation of socio-economic development plans and the development of industries and sectors within Nghe An province. The province is also promoting the implementation of the National Target Program on energy saving and efficiency to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions; transforming the structure of crops and livestock according to seasons; researching, developing, and applying new technologies in agriculture; and fostering international cooperation in forest protection and development linked to climate change response. In particular, to address sea level rise and combat storms and floods, Nghe An is implementing several important solutions. Mr. Vo Van Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, stated: Currently, the province is upgrading the left bank dike of the Lam River section passing through Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen districts and Vinh City under the National Target Program on Climate Change Response. Simultaneously, procedures are being initiated to propose the construction of a saltwater intrusion barrier across the Lam River at Ben Thuy and the upgrading of the Hoang Mai River irrigation system; and to implement mangrove and watershed reforestation projects.

Thus, it can be seen that Nghe An has implemented many solutions to respond to the challenges posed by climate change. However, climate change is a global challenge in the 21st century, not just for an individual, organization, or country. Therefore, this year's World Environment Day, with the theme: "Act to stop sea level rise," is a necessary occasion to raise awareness among everyone about the position and importance of environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

Phuoc Anh