Vietnam held a meeting in the northern city of Hai Phong to mark World Environmental Day (June 5) and World Oceans Day (June 8), both focusing on climate change. Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan called on the whole society to join together to cope with climate change in an effort to contribute to a sustainable global environment.
Scientists have warned that Vietnam is one of the five countries in the world that will suffer the most from the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels.
Being fully aware of the problem, the country has introduced a number of policies to protect the environment, the sea and its islands.
As a result, the National Assembly approved the revised Environmental Protection Law in 2005 and the Law on Bio-Diversity in 2008. The Government has put into effect a Decree on the General Management of Natural Resources and Maritime Environmental Protection in 2009, Vietnam’s Maritime Strategy up to 2020 and recently an action programme to cope with climate change.
The Government has also ratified the UN Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
The National Assembly has decided to allocate 1% of the States annual budget to environmental protection.