VietNamNet Bridge - Mekong Delta, the rice granary of Vietnam, is facing three challenges due to the impact of climate change, unsustainable development and hydropower plants on the Mekong River, according to Nguyen Huu Thien, an independent expert on Mekong Delta ecology. The closed dykes in Dong Thap Muoi and Long Xuyen Quadrangle have increased the water level by 5 cm in Can Tho City and 3 cm in My Thuan. The closed dykes in Dong Thap Muoi and Long Xuyen Quadrangle have increased the water level by 5 cm in Can Tho City and 3 cm in My Thuan. RELATED NEWS Mekong Delta during the flood season Land subsidence, rising seas threaten Mekong Delta Kim Chi … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta faces three big challenges caused by climate change
Climate change
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 … [Read more...] about Green growth promoted to respond to climate change
Mekong Delta farmers find opportunity in climate change
VietNamNet Bridge – Local farmers in the Mekong Delta Tra Vinh Province have turned challenges, triggered by climate change, into opportunities to earn money.Nguyen Van Danh, of Tra Vinh Province’s Long Hoa Island Commune, said he started to raise blue-legged prawn instead of planting rice for three years.He and six children now own a 7-ha shrimp farm, earning a profit of hundred millions of dong each year, the Tien Phong (Vanguard) online newspaper reported.“By growing rice, we always worried how to earn money to cover daily expenses in the past, by farming blue-legged prawn, we now only focus on making more money to become richer,” he said.Danh said, a decade ago, local farmers only cultivated rice during six months, the rest six months of a year; they planted nothing because salinity attacked their fields. Thus, local farmers at that time were very poor and had to go to other provinces to earn their living during the salinity season.“Now things are … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta farmers find opportunity in climate change
Mekong Delta needs various financial resources to tackle climate change
At the conference (Source http://cand.com.vn)An Giang (VNA) – As State fundingis insufficient, it is necessary to mobilise other resources, especially fromthe international community, businesses and non-governmental organisations, tohelp the Mekong Delta cope with climate change.Secretary General and Vice Chairman of theVietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Don Tuan Phong made thestatement at a conference in An Giang province on November 28.He said the Mekong Delta is one of the mostvulnerable regions to climate change’s impacts in Vietnam, facing issues likeerosion, mangrove degradation and subsidence.Therefore, the mobilisation of financialresources is a key task for the region to adapt to climate change, he added.Deputy Director of the Department ofMeteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change under the Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment Pham Van Tan suggested building a plan for the Deltato ensure sustainable, safe development and prosperity by the … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta needs various financial resources to tackle climate change
Vietnam acts to ensure food security amidst climate change
Vietnam is still considered an agricultural country, with approximately 70% of the population living in rural areas. The Mekong Delta is the largest agricultural production area in Vietnam, contributing 54% of the country’s rice output, 70% of aquatic production and 36.5% of fruit output. Up to 90% of rice exports and 65% of seafood shipments of Vietnam come from the Mekong Delta, according to Dao Anh Dung, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho city People’s Committee.However, the Mekong Delta is among the areas hardest-hit by climate change and sea level rise. Last year, record extreme weather affected 13 provinces in the region, causing water shortages for millions of people and losses of some 800,000 tonnes of rice. According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural development (MARD) Le Quoc Doanh, up to 32.2% of agricultural areas will be affected by climate change by the end of the 21st century.Production of major crops like rice and corn are projected to reduce … [Read more...] about Vietnam acts to ensure food security amidst climate change