The climate change strategy must be based on the principle of adapting and coping with the situation for survival and development. Focus should be on ways to deal with the matter now and in the future.

 This statement was made by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a recent meeting held by the National Steering Committee to discuss the national programme to cope with climate change.

  Mr Dung asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment to map out a master strategy for dealing with climate change which should be carried out properly with the involvement of all the people throughout the country.

 He underlined the need to fully tap domestic resources and encourage support from outside to address the issue effectively and prevent adverse impacts from climate change. Measures should include upgrading embankment systems, ensuring the safety of reservoirs, readjusting plans for infrastructure projects to serve socio-economic development and residential areas, and restructuring agricultural production.

 In addition, it is essential to finalise the scenario of climate change in Vietnam so that ministries, sectors and localities will be able to devise their own action plans and target programmes for irrigation, natural disaster control and agricultural and clean industry development, said Mr Dung.

 The PM delegated the Ministry of Industry and Trade to create a strategy for clean technology and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to guide and encourage farmers and businesses to apply advanced technology in agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

 The Ministry of Planning and Investment was asked to coordinate with other central ministries to come up with low carbon green growth strategy and work together with donors to implement relevant projects.

 

PM Dung agreed to create the best possible conditions for scientists, managers and Vietnamese and foreign experts in this field to contribute opinions or offer suggestions for the national climate change progamme.

 

He also nominated Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai as Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee of the target national programme to cope with climate change.

(VOV)