The Hanoitimes – Cities are home to half of the world’s population. Cities are the focus of most economic activities. They are energy hogs and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Policy decision-makers in developing countries widely acknowledge the need for urban development to be environmentally friendly.
Yet, the people living in such countries are confronted with social priorities such as employment and housing. Climate change or even environmental issues are therefore often perceived as secondary in the eyes of local decision-makers.
Climate change and the future of city
Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries to the different risks induced by climate change: rise in water level, flooding, severe storms, salinisation, etc. Cities are immediately exposed. A sea level rise of one metre would affect 10.74% of the country’s urban areas. The growth of cities is contributing to increased risk: the urban sprawl now taking place and population growth are putting more people, property and infrastructure in the path of adverse effects.
The government of Vietnam approved its national climate strategy in December 2011, followed by its action plan in October 2012. To successfully carry out this national strategy, initiatives are required at the grassroots level. A sustainable, green city is an objective that many cities and provinces in Vietnam would like to achieve, but how? How can a local development strategy be built that works in these climate-related dimensions? What skills are needed? Where will funding be found? How can the challenges of social inclusion, economic development and climate change mitigation be met? Finally, what can be expected of international climate negotiations?
These issues will be addressed at a film presentation-debate sponsored by the Agence Française de Développement in Vietnam with the contributors Mr PHAM Van Tan, deputy general director, Department of Hydrology, Meteorology and Climate Change, MONRE, Mr Jean-François DI MEGLIO, chairman, Asia Centre and Mr Jean-Claude PIRES, deputy director and officer in charge of Infrastructure Pole, AFD Vietnam. The debate will be hold on 6:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. 13 November 2014 at the Institut Français de Hanoi – l’Espace, 24 Trang Tien., The debate will be preceded by a showing of French and Vietnamese documentary films (subtitled) with a view to putting in perspective the issue in Vietnam and worldwide.
AFD and adaptation to climate change
A public development institution, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has been working for some 70 years toward poverty alleviation and promoting development in countries of the Global South and overseas territories. It acts on policies decided by the government of France. Present on four continents where it has a network of 71 agencies and representative offices, AFD provides funding and coaching for projects that improve the living conditions of people, supports economic growth and protects the planet.
In November 2011, AFD adopted a strategy and action plan 2012-2016 to combat climate change, based on three pillars: an ongoing financial commitment target for climate accounting for 50% of AFD grants to developing countries and 30% of grants through its affiliate PROPARCO geared toward the private sector; systematic measuring of the carbon footprint of funded projects based on a tough, transparent methodology; a policy to select projects based on their impact on the climate, factoring in the level of development of the countries concerned. In 2013, its commitment was fleshed out as it supported, to the tune of 2.4 billion euros, 77 development projects with co-benefits in terms of climate change mitigation.
In Vietnam, AFD is a major partner of the Vietnamese authorities in the area of climate change mitigation through different projects (SPRCC, flood control, public transit, and the like), but also by actively supporting dialogue featuring sectoral policies on the issue, notably in view of the upcoming COP 21 that France will host in 2015. In this way, AFD’s projects have contributed to saving 2 million tCO2 per an.
Established in Vietnam in 1994, AFD has already committed over 1.5 billion euros for 75 projects. Vietnam is one of AFD’s foremost partners. The initial support for rural development was broadened by support focussing on large infrastructure projects in the fields of energy, transportation, clean water and drainage. Currently, its strategy is built around three key levels: sustainable urban development; support to the productive sector in an approach fostering social and environmental responsibility; climate change mitigation.
Ha Giang
Đăng ký: VietNam News