Guy Singh-Watson's company supplies organic vegetables to tens of thousands of homes each week. -- Photo: RIVERFORD ORGANIC FARMERS Guy Singh-Watson, a prominent green entrepreneur and campaigner, said more focus should be put on cutting carbon. PM Theresa May has pledged to ban all avoidable plastic waste by 2042. Environmental experts have said that the anti-plastic movement showed the public could be "mobilised" for action on green issues. But Mr Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organic Farmers, which supplies about 47,000 boxes of vegetables to homes in the UK each week, said demonising plastic could do more harm than good. He said: "The fervour - the almost religious fervour - of some of our customers in (being) anti-plastic can actually create problems. "Plastic is not in itself an evil material, it is the fact that we use so much of it. "The biggest environmental challenge facing our planet is climate change - and anything that distracts attention from that is … [Read more...] about Anti-plastic focus ‘dangerous distraction’ from climate change
Climate change
Vietnam strives hard in responding to climate change: official
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has shown strong performance in building and implementing policy actions related to climate change it committed to development partners, stated Pham Van Tan, deputy head of the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Tan made the statement at a plenary meeting of the Support Programme to Respond to Climate Change (SP-RCC) in Hanoi on October 18 to review the monitoring of policy framework supporting climate change response in 2016, 2017 and 2018, as well as to seek ways to overcome difficulties in the future. He noted that 24 policy actions were launched in 2016, and 25 in 2017. In 2018, 12 out of the 29 actions have been completed. Ministries, sectors and relevant agencies have also worked hard to finish all committed actions. Regarding difficulties arising in the implementation process, Tan pointed to changes of laws as well as functions, tasks, authority and organisation of … [Read more...] about Vietnam strives hard in responding to climate change: official
Climate change sinks the delta, mindset worsens it
Viet Nam News Phước Bửu The sinking situation of the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta in the south of Việt Nam—seen in the rising tides and worsening floods affecting the region—is obviously caused by climate change. But the mindset of planners that fostered the building of embankment systems around the delta decades ago has worsened today’s situation. The mindset persists today, as experts have recommended the clearance of these embankment systems, but planners for the delta development insisted on protecting the embankments for shortsighted benefits. The impacts of climate change have recently become clearer than ever before in the delta as rising sea levels and higher tides have become more frequent. Late last week, the delta’s biggest urban centre, Cần Thơ City, was flooded to the historic tidal level. The tidal level measured on the Hậu River, one of the two biggest branches of the Mekong River in Việt Nam, … [Read more...] about Climate change sinks the delta, mindset worsens it
UK aids Vietnam in response to climate change
According to the Ambassador, Britain has praised Vietnam’s ratification of the Paris Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, its green growth strategy and commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward. Source: ttvn.vn With the UK’s assistance, Vietnam is implementing a project called Calculator 2050 to calculate the country’s greenhouse gas emissions until 2050. Ambassador Gareth Ward said that green finance and renewable energy are the two key issues to help Vietnam lower its losses caused by climate change. The UK is preparing to launch a new program for Southeast Asia in 2019, which focuses on energy savings and green finance in order to lure investment from the private sector for sustainable energy development and transport projects in Vietnam, he added. Translated by Trung Thanh … [Read more...] about UK aids Vietnam in response to climate change
Green transformation crucial for adaptation to climate change
Participants in the seminar on green transformation in Quang Ninh province on October 16 pose for a photo (Photo: baoquangninh.com.vn) Quang Ninh (VNA) – Green transformation for energy and water resource security in the Mekong Sub-region is crucial for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to respond to climate change, experts said at a seminar held in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh on October 16. The event was jointly held by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), the Korean Environment Institute (KEI), the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) and the Lao Academy of Social Sciences (LASS). VASS Vice President Prof. Dr. Dang Nguyen Anh, energy and water resource security is a leading important issue of developing countries. The matter is particularly significant to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as it has close relations with economy, politics and society in those nations, he said. Green transformation for energy and water resource security helps increase cooperation among the … [Read more...] about Green transformation crucial for adaptation to climate change