UN Environment Program Helps Vietnam Finish Report on Climate Change

The UN Environment Program had supported the Vietnamese Natural Resources and Environment Strategy and Policy Institute to complete a report to assess climate change in Vietnam. Based on the historical data, the national report was the first by Vietnamese scientists, the Vietnam News Agency said, citing Report Consultant Professor Nguyen Trong Hieu. The report shows that if the sea level rises by 100 centimeters by the end of the 21st century, part of Vietnam’s coastal and delta areas will be under water. The temperature may increase by 2.1-3.6 degrees Celsius, while the rainfall may rise by 1.8%-10.1%, the Thanhnien.net reported. General Director of the institute Nguyen Van Tai said that the research would serve as a good reference for policy makers and scientists. The institute under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also finished another report to assess climate change on Ha Tinh province, one of six coastal localities in northern central Vietnam that was heavily affected by climate change over the past years. Vietnam is listed among five countries that will be hardest hit by climate change worldwide, environmentalists said.