Much effort has been taken to reduce the impacts of climate change...
Much effort has been taken to reduce the impacts of climate change. However, lack of funds and experts are among great challenges, resulting in greater exposure to the worst effects of weather-related disasters.
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In recent years, the evidence of climate change has included heat waves, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, increasing flooding, droughts, the spread of diseases and so on.
Vo Anh Kiet, Director of Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Center says the average temperature in Khanh Hoa Province has increased by 0.3oC compared with the past 2 decades with the increase in the frequency of flooding and average annual rainfall, etc.
According to the data by the Khanh Hoa Flood Control Steering Board, Khanh Hoa has suffered from great loss, including 83 dead and VND450 billion damage caused by natural disasters between 1999 and 2009.
Khanh Hoa Province has made plans to implement the national target program to deal with the climate change, period 2011-2015.
According to Bui Minh Son, Chief of the Water Resource & Hydrometeorology, Department of Natural Resources & Environment, more funding is required to improve resilience to climate change. Protecting societies against the impacts of climate change is expensive.
Extensive flood resistant structures include VND200 billion Vinh Nguyen Embankment, Binh Tan Bridge embankment (Nha Trang), To Hap Bridge, Ko Roa Bridge (Khanh Son), Thac Ngua Bridge (Khanh Vinh), etc.
Only Vinh Nguyen Embankment has been approved and received funding so far.
The shortage of climate change experts and funding is among challenges. In the period 2011-2013, the focus is generally on issues related climate change. Raising public awareness of the environmental problem poses an urgent challenge.
Mai Van Thang, Vice Director of the Department of Natural Resources & Environment says climate change experts are badly required. The lack of climate change experts in the country may hinder effective implementation of climate change adaptation at all levels.
N.T
