Speaking to 150 heads of states, governments and leaders of  international organisations, representing  196 member parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung reiterated the Vietnamese government's political commitment to joining global efforts to cope with climate change. He said Vietnam pledges to support and step up negotiations and adoption of the post-2020 global climate agreement. Its contents should ensure equal contributions are made by all countries with balanced contents in terms of emissions reduction, adaptation, financing, technology transfer and development. He  added  that developed countries should lead the way in delivering on their commitments while helping developing countries to implement the agreement.

French President Francois Hollande receives Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
at the opening ceremony of COP 21. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
at the opening ceremony of COP 21. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung addresses the opening ceremony of COP 21. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA

COP 21 sees the participation of 1,300 delegates, including leaders of 150 nations. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Vice President of the World Bank Laura Tuck
, co-chaired a high-level  dialogue on responding to climate change in the Mekong Delta region. Photo: Duc Tam/VNA

The most outstanding point at COP 21 was that Vietnam successfully raised the climate change problem in the Mekong River Delta at this summit. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Vice President of the World Bank Laura Tuck, co-chaired a high-level dialogue on responding to climate change in the Mekong Delta region. During the dialogue, the World Bank, the Netherlands and international communities expressed their support for Vietnam’s effort in responding to climate change in the delta.

The Mekong River Delta, the area producing one fifth of the world’s rice, is being seriously affected by climate change. Photo: Manh Linh/VNA The Mekong River delta in Vietnam has a total area  of 40,000km2 and  a population of over 18 million people. The area produces one fifth of the world’s rice. However, it is now “doubly affected” by climate change and the rising sea water level and the construction of dikes and unsustainable exploitation and use of water resources in the upperpart of the Mekong River. Serious drought has led to increasing salt penetration, impacting nearly 700,000ha of farm land, accounting for 40% of the total agricultural area of 1.7 million hectares in the whole region. If there are not any suitable resolutions, it is expected that by the end of this century the sea water level will rise 1m higher, submerging about 40% of the area and  effect the lives of nearly 55% of the people in the delta.

 

By VNA/VNP