(VOVWORLD) - Climate change and increasing greenhouse gas emission are challenging Mekong Delta provinces’ sustainable growth. In order to increase their resistance and ability to mitigate the impact of climate change, local provinces are promoting the Green Growth Strategy.
 Green growth promoted to respond to climate change |
The Mekong Delta is home to more than 18 million people and is Vietnam’s key industrial-agriculture hub. But the region is facing serious climate change challenges including a rising sea level, receding mangrove forests and coastal erosion.
The average temperature in the region is expected to increase 0.7 degrees Celsius by 2020 and 2 degrees Celsius by 2025. The volume of CO2 emissions in the region is likely to increase rapidly in the near future due to its rapid development.
Green growth inevitable
The government adopted a National Strategy on Green Growth in 2012 focused on reducing greenhouse gas emission, greening production, and greening consumers’ lifestyles. An Giang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, Soc Trang and Hau Giang provinces are finalizing their plans in response to the Strategy.
Vo Doan Dung of the Hau Giang Department of Planning and Investment said green growth is inevitable. He said promoting green growth will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make growth sustainable. Le Minh Chien is Vice Chairman of the Bac Lieu Provincial People’s Committee: “Green growth is of great importance to sustainable development. We need to mobilize resources and adopt a coordinated policy to implement this task.”
Coordinated actions
The Ministry of Planning and Investment has released an Action Plan on green growth in Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, and Hau Giang province. Under the plan, local provinces will strengthen regional links, promote environmental sustainability, protect biodiversity, and harmonize economic, social, and environmental goals. The region will need 5.2 billion USD to invest in green growth until 2025.
Ha Dang Son, an expert on green growth with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, said that provinces need to mobilize foreign aid and focus on human resource training. Mr. Son asked local provinces to review their plans to introduce green production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions: "Activities to reduce green house gas emissions involve developing renewable energy, reforming cultivation techniques, and restructuring agricultural production. We should promote high-tech agricultural production, and review our economic development and environment plans to boost green production.”