HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City has drafted a long-term planto combat the detrimental effects of climate change.

The HCM City Department of Natural Resources and Environment recently held aseminar on climate change response policies 2017-2020 and the new draft planfor the 2021-2030 period.

Experts praised authorities’ efforts on reducing the amount of CO2 by one tonnebetween 2017 and 2019.

According to a representative of the city's Department of Natural Resources andEnvironment, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, previous plans were relatively“ambitious”. They cost a significant amount of capital resources but did notgenerate successful results.

While it is essential to make a plan based on the government’s vision, HCM Cityneeds to evaluate the quality of its human and infrastructure resources and getan update on global climate change activities before drafting a specific plan,she said.

The deputy head of Scientific Management under the city's Department of NaturalResources and Environment, Huynh Luu Trung Phung, said he was concerned thatsince the 10-year plan’s mission is relatively broad, it would be challengingto determine detailed goals and products that meet society’s actual needs.

This occurred in a case in which authorities were once asked to research theimpact of climate change on the agricultural sector. As the mission given wastoo broad to be carried out, they had a difficult time, Phung said, stressingthe importance of setting realistic goals.

Collaboration

Speaking at the event, a representative of the HCM City's Department ofConstruction said the department would strive to complete the seven missions givenby the city People’s Committee in accordance with the Paris Agreement onclimate change.

The department will collaborate with the World Bank and Asian Development Bankto offer solutions on management of flooding in HCM City.

According to the deputy director of the HCM City Department of NaturalResources and Environment, Nguyen Thi Thanh My, collaboration among authoritiesare important to tackle the impact of climate change.

Though authorities have become more aware of the matter over the past fewyears, they have not considered a response to climate change as an essentialtask, she said.

HCM City is currently working on a specific climate change response plan to becarried out between 2021 and 2030, with a vision to 2050.

The HCM City Department of Natural Resources and Environment was appointed totake the leading role in this task, My said, suggesting that authorities needto be more active.

Setting specific goals every three to five years, together with evaluation criteria,is required as well./.