Vietnam was one of the most vulnerable countries to rising sea levels, said former prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Rising sea levels had affected the Mekong Delta region faster than forecasted

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Southwest Steering Committee held a conference on climate issues and water resource management in the Mekong Delta region on September 26. 

The event attracted the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and former PM Nguyen Tan Dung who was head of the national committee on climate change adaptation.

Dung said rising sea levels had affected the Mekong Delta region faster than forecasted.

Meanwhile, the construction of many hydropower dams along upstream area of Mekong River had also seriously affected the region.

“It is necessary to update the climate change scenario to have suitable planning for the region’s development. The Mekong Delta plays a very important role in the country’s development, so, we need to cope up with climate change issues to save the region by any means,” Dung noted.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s forecasts, 45% of the region’s area could face salt intrusion in the coming time if hydropower dams curb the current and allow greater saline intrusion.

Ca Mau Province has suffered long drought and serious salt intrusion.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued four sea level rise scenarios by the end of the 21st century with the highest sea water rise of 75cm.

Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue said the fight against climate change issues needs the co-operation of different agencies from the local to central level.

Dtinews