The UN lauded Vietnam’s efforts in coping with climate change as exemplary while Luxembourg promised further aid to help the country adapt to climate change as a result of Copenhagen talks.
The Director of the UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD), Yern Katerere, made the praise at a workshop held in the Danish capital on December 14 (local time) as part of the Climate Change talks.
The workshop was held by Vietnam to present to the international community this raging problem as well as policies, strategies and actions made by the country to adapt itself to and reduce climate change impact.
The event was a very good move by Vietnam to help other countries better understand the real situation as well as measures taken by the country to cope with climate change, said the UN expert.
He also urged other developing countries to grasp this opportunity to learn from Vietnam ’s rich experiences in reducing emissions through its efforts against deforestation and forest degradation.
The same day, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Khoi Nguyen met the Luxembourg Minister of Cooperation, Development and Humanitarian Issues, Marie Josee Jabobs.
Vietnam is at risk of losing up to 40 percent of land in the Mekong Delta, its rice bowl, due to climate change, said Nguyen.
He added to secure food security in Vietnam also means food security for the world as the country has met the needs of not only its 87 million population but also some 100 million people in other countries.
In response, Marie made commitments to further aid to Vietnam in coping with climate change.
Luxembourge is willing to give Vietnam part of its aid to developing countries in climate change combat, which is to make up 1 percent of the European country’s gross budget, she concluded.