Cooperation in dealing with climate change, especially developing green
transport, is a big part of the strategic partnership between Vietnam
and the UK, UK Ambassador to Vietnam Antony Stokes said.
Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop entitled, “Climate change
response and green vehicles promotion” in Hanoi on Feb. 17, Ambassador
Stokes said that this is a potential field for future cooperation
between the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport and the UK Department of
Transport’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles.
The
event, with support from the UK, marks the first step in cooperation
between the two ministries, especially in green and sustainable
transport in the future, Stokes said.
He said
climate change is one of the biggest challenges of humanity and Vietnam
is one of countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels.
Green transport not only brings opportunities to reduce the impacts of
climate change and move towards using energy efficiently – it also
stimulates the economy, he said.
Vice Minister of
Transport, Le Manh Hung said that rising sea levels caused by climate
change may significantly impact transport systems and buildings under
construction, especially in coastal areas.
To cope
with this issue, the transport ministry has built coastal roads equipped
with dykes to prevent seawater and strengthened coastal roads and
buildings, especially in the Mekong Delta.
Hung said
that the ministry has made public its action plan to respond to climate
change for the 2011-2015 period, which aims to enhance capacity to cope
with climate change for the sustainable development of transport./.
