Mekong Delta proactively responds to climate change

Illustration photo

The Mekong Delta is a key economic region of special significance to the country; however, it is facing a lot of challenges, most seriously the impacts of rising sea water and increasing saline intrusion as a result of climate change as well as the dependence on upstream countries in management and exploitation of water resources.

At a recent symposium on adaptation to climate change and water resource management in the Mekong Delta region under the chair of Deputy PM Hue, participants agreed on the need to apply synchronous and overall solutions, facilitate the engagement of the entire political system and promote the role of each locality, each residential community and especially the people.

The deputy PM insisted on the continuous update of detailed climate change scenarios for each subregion and locality, on that basis, renovating the work of strategy building and planning – from the master planning on socio-economic development to the planning on infrastructure development, use of land and water resources, exploitation of groundwater and agricultural restructuring.

He also directed the continuous application of legal and diplomatic measures with upstream countries of the Mekong River Basin in a spirit of cooperation to harmoniously, effectively and sustainably exploit and use water resources for mutual benefits, ensuring national interests and accordance with international practice for a cross-country river.

Hue asked for solutions concerning policies and institutions in water resource management, biodiversity, land use and groundwater exploitation, and those on restructuring, urban development and industrialization in the Mekong Delta region; acceleration of communication among businesses and people aiming to raise awareness and proactively adapt to challenges in the time ahead;and proactively research suitable plant seeds and livestock breeds for each subregion.

He assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) to research and propose proper measures on the integrated management of water resources in the Mekong Delta; requested the Ministries of Planning and Investment, and Finance to review and distribute resources for adaptation to climate change in localities across the region; and asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and MONRE to closely follow and give timely updates and assessments of the water source situation and saline intrusion in the 2016-2017 dry season, thereby instructing localities on ways to respond to minimise possible damages.

Localities in the Mekong Delta region were tasked with updating the issues and challenges relating to climate change, and include them in their respective socio-economic development plans and programmes./.

By Vien Nhu