Climate change to Vietnam is very serious: It not only devastates ecological environment, causes enormous damage to economy ( even up to 10% of GDP, severely damages the infrastructure such as roads, electricity and water systems, irrigation …), to food security as well as international relations, but also causes other harmful effects on the society.
Climate change and rising sea water, firstly natural disasters, cause storm, floods and droughts more severely. It can even affect to 10 – 20% of Vietnamese population, in the coastal areas and in both Red river delta and Mekong Delta. This is a danger that threats to increase the differentiation of living standard, obstruct and slow down the poverty reduction, especially in the areas facing with disasters. The implementation of economic objectives and the sustainable development of the country will be slowed down or even failed.
Mekong delta, with over 80% of land area below 2,5 m compared to sea level, climate change has caused many changes about water level and intrusion condition of salinity. It has been forecasted that in 2100 the climate will be more severe. The temperature increase 4 – 5ᵒC, the number of days with temperature more than 35ᵒC will rise above 240 days/year. Heat waves can rise to 40ᵒC, even 45ᵒC. In rainy seasons, the water of East China sea will be 1m higher than it is now, which makes flooding water of Mekong delta increase nearly 2m compared to current flooding water level.
To human health
High temperature increases negative impact on human health, leading to increased risks for the old, people with cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, especially diseases increase under the effect of heat, such as malaria, dengue fever, encephalitis ( transmitted by mosquitoes ), intestinal diseases ( through water environment ), malnutrition diseases, lung disease …
Climate change increases the likelihood of some tropical diseases: malaria, dengue fever, accelerates the growth and development of many types of bacteria and insects, disease carriers, increases the number of patients who were infected contagious bacteria… Natural disasters such as hurricane, rising water, flooding, drought, heavy rain and landslide, etc… increasing the breakdown of plans of population, economy – society, employment opportunities and income, poor farmers, ethnic minorities in mountainous areas, the elderly, children and women.
To tourism, trade, service and education
Rising sea water affects coastal beaches, some may lose, others are pushed into land, which affects the exploitation, and damages historical and cultural heritages, reserves, ecotourism parks, golf courses in coastal lowland and many other relevant infrastructures can be inundated.
Climate change affects education, destroys educating infrastructure, interrupts the time coming to school of pupils, especially in the mountainous regions and Mekong delta.