HCM City needs better disaster responses

Local experts have urged HCM City authorities to better coordinate activities on climate-change adaptation as the city is one of 10 in the world that is most vulnerable to such changes.— Photo vnexpress

In recent years, the city has conducted research on climate change and sought new urban planning measures, said Ly Khanh Tam Thao, deputy head of the city Department of Planning and Architecture’s General Planning Division.

Speaking at a seminar held on Wednesday, Thao said that the city needed new strategies and preferential policies for urban projects.

Natural disasters like flooding, high temperatures and inclement weather have been occurring more frequently in recent years.

Vu Thuy Linh, deputy head of the city’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment’s climate change division, said the city had no official figures on the effects of climate change on the city.

She said the division would compile updated data about the impact of climate change.

Since 2009, the city has implemented several measures, including raising public awareness about its consequences.

HCM City is also a member of the international C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

Central city efforts

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment yesterday (Dec 19) praised central Da Nang City for its climate change preparations and responses.

Speaking at the meeting, city’s Chief of the Co-ordination Office for Climate Change, Dinh Quang Cuong, said the local Department of Planning and Investment is conducting a project on climate change and planning for the city’s social and economic adaptation.

The project aims at strengthening the ability to take into account climate change elements when planning for the city’s socio-economic development. Domestic experts from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Institute for Social and Environment Transition and the Ministry of Science and Technology will join the project.

A recommendation for climate change preparation will be the expected outcome. Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Nguyen Hong Ha, spoke highly about the city’s efforts, initiatives and activities relating to this issue.

The central city has been selected to join the 100 Resilient Cities Network, an initiative by the Rockefeller Foundation to support cities to adopt and incorporate a resilience mindset in their planning, development, and community-building so they will be better prepared for, and quickly rebound from shocks, stresses and natural disasters in the 21st century.

Source: Vietnam Plus