Vietnam Cities Join WWF’s Program on Climate Change Resilience

Vietnam’s four central cities namely Danang, Hue, Hoi An, and Dong Ha have agreed to join One Planet City Challenge – a program invited by the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) – to show how they can be a hub for creativity, ambition, and innovation in climate action. The four cities will participate in the program in 2017 and 2018 with a focus on urban greening, green tourism development, effective disposal of trash and wastewater, intelligent public lighting systems, use of renewable energy and environmentally-friendly construction materials. Commitments and action plans for each city will be developed and ready for submission this September with technical support from WWF-Vietnam. An international jury of experts will evaluate entrants in terms of urban planning, transport, consumer behavior, and energy systems. The most ambitious cities will be recognized as national winners and the best one will be the global winner. According to the WWF, global cities generate 70% of the world’s carbon emissions. The WWF’s One Planet City Challenge is a biennial competition that recognizes and rewards cities for developing infrastructure, housing, transport, and mobility solutions to power the global transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. Director General of WWF International Marco Lambertini said that progressive climate policy by local governments can radically reduce the impact of transport, housing and other high-emitting sectors and deliver greener, healthier, and more livable cities and homes for people. (Vietnam Plus Mar 23, Nhan Dan – The People, wwf.panda.org)