Vietnam Ratifies UN Convention on Climate Change

Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has confirmed that the country has ratified the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, which went into force globally on November 4, marking its firm commitments to implement the international law on environmental protection. The ratification on Oct 31 showed Vietnam’s efforts in joining international communities to deal with climate change, the most serious challenge to our planet that leaves Vietnam one of the hardest-hit countries suffering a number of consequences regardless of droughts, tide rise, salinization, and erosion, state media reported, citing the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The Paris Agreement, which was reached in December 2015 by nearly 200 countries, has been ratified by more than 90 nations, including the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases China and the U.S. The adoption of the agreement, the first legally binding accord on climate change, has opened up a new era characterized by low carbon development as well as environment-friendly production and consumption models for the whole world. Once signing the agreement, Vietnam has pledged to lower greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2030, saying it could even cut by 25% with the support of international organizations. Vietnam needs an estimated $30 billion for climate change adaptation and mitigation activities from now until 2020. At a meeting with international donors and development partners late last year, the Vietnamese government was advised to reconsider its development strategies to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel and cheap power sources. (Baohaiquan.vn Nov 4, VnExpress.net Nov 5)