During the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, Vietnam presented its updated National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Le Cong Thanh, emphasized the importance of climate adaptation in global efforts to protect people, ecosystems, and livelihoods, particularly in developing countries. Vietnam has taken proactive steps to address the impacts of climate change, as evidenced by its original NAP in 2020 and a comprehensive framework for monitoring and evaluating its adaptation initiatives. The updated NAP builds on the lessons learned from 2020 to 2023 and integrates Vietnam's new climate commitments. It is a collaborative effort involving government, research institutions, non-government organizations (NGOs), and international partners.

The need for global cooperation

Although Vietnam has mobilized domestic resources to address climate change, it still faces significant challenges, such as financial constraints, technological limitations, and capacity gaps. given the country’s vulnerability to climate impacts.

Bui Viet Hien from UNDP Vietnam noted that Vietnam will need to engage in even more intensive adaptation efforts in the coming decades to ensure communities and ecosystems are better equipped to cope with climate change. Vietnam could learn from other countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines, which have extensive experience in adaptation, particularly in the context of loss and damage.

Benedict Vickers from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the world's largest fund for helping developing countries respond to climate change, emphasized the robustness of Vietnam’s updated NAP. Many institutions and partners are interested in supporting Vietnam’s efforts, seeing the updated NAP as a promising example of cross-cutting interventions that address climate change while improving local livelihoods.

Community-based adaptation

Vu Thi Bich Hop, Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Rural Development, shared her insights on how the updated NAP can benefit local communities. Drawing from over 20 years of experience working with rural populations, she emphasized that the new approach will enable communities to maximize the nature-based and community-driven solutions they have been employing for years. Hop highlighted the central role of local knowledge in adaptation efforts, especially in areas such as agriculture, livestock, and livelihoods. Thus, effective adaptation requires strong cooperation among government agencies, local authorities, businesses, and community groups.

Source: https://hanoitimes.vn/vietnams-updated-nap-progress-in-climate-action-328540.html