(TITC) - Can Tho City has excellently got into the final round of the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) 2022. The OPCC, initiated by the WWF, is the invitation to cities to join together in responding to the climate change challenges. This year, over 280 cities from 50 countries accepted the challenge. In Vietnam, Can Tho City has got into the final round thanks to impressive figures in the city's Climate Data Report.
Started in 2011, the aim of OPCC is to honour cities that enable to reduce and adapt with the global climate. It is impressive to have the commitment of cities in responding to climate change and the determination to reduce Greenhouse emissions.
The OPCC encourages cities to have their cities’ climate actions and ambitions, aligned with the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement. This year’s challenge aims to support and celebrate cities with action plans for keeping the global average rise in temperature to below 1.5 °C. Basically, the cities participating in the challenge committed to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 246 million tons of CO2, equivalent to Spain's total annual GHG emissions.
The OPCC jury includes leading experts within the field of urban sustainability from organizations such as the Global Covenant of Mayors, ICLEI, C40, and CDP, etc. Mr. Seth Schultz, CEO, Resilience Rising as OPCC Jury Chair .
The profile of Can Tho City is evaluated by many criteria, including: ambitious climate goals, leadership commitment, resilience to future challenges, and a comprehensive climate action plan.
Ms. Tran Thi Hai, Director of the sustainable development programme, Vietnam WWF said: “Sixty-nine solutions to comprehensively respond to climate change in the period of 2021 - 2030 and a vision to 2050 of Can Tho City has earned the absolute point from the judges on the political will index. These efforts and determinations are the motivation and encouragement to other cities to promptly respond and adapt with climate change.”
After getting into the final round of the OPCC, Can Tho will represent Vietnam along with 32 countries to participate in the “We love City” campaign from 19th September to 31st October 2022. The campaign aims to encourage city residents to join hands with the city's plans and commitments towards low-carbon urban development. City residents will vote and make suggestions to improve and protect the city's environment. Vietnam WWF is actively supporting Can Tho City in the process of preparing, communicating and launching this Campaign.
“We wholly committed to accompany the city in the next OPCC years, also hopefully to cooperate and develop various plans for the city towards a common climate goal”, Ms. Hai shared.
Can Tho City is located in the centre of the Mekong Delta. The city is and will be severely affected by global climate change, reflected in the risk of loss of agricultural land and residential areas, along with great losses in agricultural and fishery production. The city has been affected by tornado, drought phenomenon - happening in frequency.
In 32 years from 1988 to 2019, the average temperature at Can Tho hub increased over 1.3°C and in the upcoming time, it is forecasted to be higher, therefore, climate change will be getting worse in the future.
By participating in the OPCC, the city has built up a broader picture for the risks and impacts of climate change; calculating practical data of greenhouse gas emission to have a comparison to the city's existing commitments and response efforts. With those data above, the OPCC helps the city to realise prioritised and effective solutions, aiming to improve the city's resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, towards the goal of 'net zero' emissions by 2050 as committed by the Prime Minister at COP26.
The cities and climate change dilemma
Cities generate more than 80% of global GDP, account for 70% of carbon emissions and consume 75% of natural resources. The cities have been facing many challenges and changes, yet opening up an experiment for new ideas and suggestions. The assessment report on impacts of Climate Change 2022 by IPCC shows that the cities are one of the main pillars for climate action. The report also indicates overall and enveloped plans not only to boost the ability to endure the climate, but also improve health and welfare of the underdog and vulnerable communities.
TITC