Un climate change

Farmers in the Mekong Delta are under pressure due to climate change. (Photo: SGGP) Speaking at the conference, Mr. Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production, said that mega-deltas in Asia, including the Mekong Delta, play an important role in providing food for millions of people in the region. However, the food systems in these deltas are being severely impacted by climate change, including floods, salinity intrusion, water shortages, and increasingly severe climate conditions. It negatively impacts economic growth, food security, and nutrition, besides challenges from urbanization and migration, and creates new poverty traps and hotspots of hunger. Dr. Ole Sander, Representative of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Vietnam, emphasized the role of Asian mega deltas as food baskets for countries in the region. The main goal of the Asian mega-deltas initiative is to build these deltas capable of sustaining socio-ecological integrity, … [Read more...] about Mega-deltas creating food baskets severely impacted by climate change

Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang provided more information about a woman recently found guilty of tax evasion, and rejected rumours she was penalised for climate change activities. Speaking at the ministry’s regular press conference, Hang said the Hanoi People’s Court on June 17 held the first-instance trial and sentenced Nguy Thi Khanh to 24 months in prison for tax evasion under Article 200 of the Penal Code. The investigation and hearing was carried out in line with law, the trial was held publicly, and the defendant had all her rights guaranteed in accordance with law, the spokeswoman noted. “Vietnam adamantly fights against and strictly deals with law violations in accordance with legal regulations. All citizens are equal before the law,” she stressed, adding that Vietnam has carried out communications and education measures to gradually … [Read more...] about Climate activist prosecuted for tax evasion pleads guilty: spokeswoman

Vietnamese influential climate activist Nguy Thi Khanh was jailed for tax evasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday, refuting the rumor that she was criminally charged for her climate-related activities. Khanh was sentenced to 24 months in prison for tax evasion during her trial at the Hanoi People’s Court on June 17. The investigation and hearing were carried out in line with the law, and the trial was held publicly, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang answered the questions from foreign media during a regular press meeting on Thursday. The defendant had all her rights guaranteed in accordance with the law, Hang added. Vietnam is determined to fight and strictly deal with violations of the law in accordance with regulations, the diplomat stressed, adding that all citizens are equal before the law. Khanh was investigated and indicted for her economic offense, particularly breaking the rules on tax management, and she pleaded … [Read more...] about Vietnam refutes rumor that prize-winning environmentalist was jailed for climate-related activities

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The Mekong Delta will plant one million hectares of high-quality rice in the coming time with the aim to improve farmers’ income, ensure food security and serve export. The task is set in a directive on some missions to promote sustainable agricultural and rural development in the region in response to climate change, recently signed by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh . The directive’s goals are to develop the Mekong Delta quickly and sustainably, proactively adapt to climate change, create breakthroughs to improve the material and spiritual life of local people, and focus on developing agriculture and rural areas in the direction of ecological agriculture, modern countryside, and civilised farmers. Under the directive , the Government requested relevant ministries and departments to study and put forward mechanisms and policies to realise the objectives and orientations for agricultural and rural development … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta to develop 1 million hectares of high-quality rice

Illustrative image (Source: baodautu.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop themed “Vietnam as your Green business opportunities destination” was held by the Belgian Vietnamese Alliance (BVA) and the Flanders International Technical Agency (FITA) in Brussels on June 22 to introduce Vietnam’s potential in renewable energy and sustainable port development. Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Nguyen Van Thao said that although the world in general and the two regions of Asia and Europe in particular have seen positive signs of a “new normal” period after two years of being hit by COVID-19, the global economic environment has remained fragile due to various factors, including geopolitical uncertainties, new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, severe disruption of supply chains, pressures from rising inflation, as well as the challenges in sustainable development and the unpredictable impacts of climate change. As a coastal country that suffers regular … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Belgium seek stronger partnership in renewable energy, port development

Authorities plant mangrove forests in Tra Vinh province’s Cau Ngang district. (Photo: VNA) Tra Vinh (VNS/VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh is growing more forests and strengthening conservation of existing ones. This is meant to protect the environment, adapt to climate change and improve people’s livelihoods, according to the coastal province’s Forest Protection Sub-department. The province plans to plant 2.1 million trees in the 2021-25 period, 1.1 million in urban and rural areas and the rest in 372ha of forests. Nguyen Vu Phuong, head of the sub-department, said 200,000 trees would be planted in forests every year. Tra Vinh is one of the delta’s provinces hardest hit by climate change , especially rising sea levels, which have impacted the environment and the lives of people living in coastal areas. To mitigate the impacts, it has implemented various forest growing programmes in recent years. For instance, it launched a mangrove … [Read more...] about Tra Vinh province plants forests to protect coasts, improve environment

AMATA VN Group is said to be one of the leading industrial park developers in Vietnam. It has set up a footprint in the country with a total of six projects – both developed and still under development – covering an area of 2,500 hectares with total investment capital of about $840 million. The group successfully called in over $4 billion of foreign direct investment capital from more than 170 tenants and has created jobs for more than 60,000 local citizens. With a proven record of over 25 years in Vietnam, sustainability has always been a crucial part of its business operations. Through many challenges in the past few years, AMATA is proud to be among the drivers of economic growth in the communities it calls home. AMATA working towards smart and sustainable cities of the future Climate change is an emerging global challenge and the United Nations has been calling for urgent action. The Vietnamese government showed a strong commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by … [Read more...] about AMATA to play a part in smart sustainable cities of the future

Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Energy transition will play a key role in implementing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to the net-zero emission target set for 2050, said Tang The Cuong, director general of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Department of Climate Change. In his message to a recent webinar themed “Asia: Renewable Energy Continent”, Cuong suggested seven focus points to fully unleash the potential of renewable energy , as well as accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. First, renewable energy needs to become a public commodity benefits all people, so that everyone has access to renewable energy. In particular, communities and groups that are adversely affected by energy transition need to be provided with support. Second, it is necessary to promote cooperation between countries in removing barriers, including those in intellectual property rights, to spur the sharing … [Read more...] about More efforts needed to tap renewable energy potential: Ministry

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Vietnam exported over 206,000 tonnes of cashew nuts worth 1.19 billion USD in the first five months of 2022, down 7.81% in volume and 6.81% in value, the Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) reported. cashew nuts with a total value of nearly 1.4 billion USD, down 35.24% in volume and 37.84% in value. raw cashew imported from Africa increased by 15-20 percent this year compared to the same period last year. climate change . There were also signs of pests and diseases in major cashew growing areas. VNA … [Read more...] about Cashew industry faces huge challenges

Mekong Delta farmers (Photo: sggp.org.vn) Can Tho (VNA) – The “Securing the Food Systems of Asian Mega-Deltas for Climate and Livelihood Resilience ” Initiative (AMD) was launched at a conference in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on June 28. Home to 177 million people, of whom 36% are poor, the densely populated Asian mega-deltas are biodiverse, fertile and productive food baskets dominated by rice, fisheries and aquaculture that support millions of people beyond the delta dwellers themselves. However, tens of millions of small-scale producers living in Asian mega-deltas face risks to food and nutrition security and livelihoods from impacts of climate change. The deltas are also severely affected by more frequent and more intense floods, sea-level rise and salinisation of freshwater and soil. Therefore, this initiative aims to create resilient, inclusive and productive deltas - which maintain socio-ecological integrity, adapt to climatic and other stressors, and … [Read more...] about Initiative to protect food systems in Asian mega delta launched in Can Tho