HA NOI (VNS) — Delegates attending a high-level forum yesterday called on Southeast Asian nations to improve opportunities for their vulnerable populations, as these countries are coping with dramatic changes in society.
The forum was organised by the Government of Viet Nam, in coordination with the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences and UNESCO.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vo Khanh Vinh, vice president of the Viet Nam Academy, said countries were coping with challenges in making sure residents have the right to live in a safe environment, especially under the increased threat of climate change.
“The ASEAN countries are quite vulnerable to climate change threats, due to large populations and economic activities concentrated largely in coastal areas, while relying heavily on agriculture,” he said.
“Each country is facing the problem that some groups in the population are being pushed out of the edge.”
According to the delegates, the role of social science is important in assessing the social consequences that climate change has on vulnerable people, who might lose their livelihoods and rights to basic necessities.
The delegates also suggested that social science researchers in the region must be connected together and create a network that consults policy-makers on dealing with the social consequences of climate change threats. — VNS
Đăng ký: VietNam News
