Climate change cannot be ignored while we strive to preserve the nature and support the poor and vulnerable. Projected climate changes include strengthening of monsoon circulation, increases in surface temperature, increases in the magnitude and frequency of extreme rainfall events, and sea level rise. These changes could result in major impacts on the country's and region’s ecosystems and biodiversity; hydrology and water resources; agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; mountains and coastal lands; and human settlements and human health. Adaptation is not an option; it is a must, if we are to avoid the most serious impacts of climate change. The Government of Viet Nam has placed high priority on the emerging issues of climate change. IUCN regards climate change as one of its important foci and is developing leading edge knowledge on the potential impacts of climate change with special attention to biodiversity and the links to poverty.
Climate Change
Climate change is now a scientifically established fact. Viet Nam, with a coastline of 3,260km and two of the largest low-lying deltas in the world, is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Approximately 20% of Viet Nam’s population lives under the poverty line. Most of them are located in natural resource rich yet highly volatile areas prone to climate related hazards.
