NAM DINH, June 6, 2014 – With support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in cooperation with Nam Dinh People’s Committee and the Management Board of Biosphere Reserve of Inter-provincial Coastal Wetlands of Red River Delta, organized a two-day symposium to promote coherent climate change adaptation actions for the entire Red River Delta.

The symposium, entitled “Red River Delta and Climate Change: Vulnerability and Adaptation Solutions,” serves as a forum for researchers, practitioners, international donors and government officials, including those representing Red River Delta provinces, to share current understanding on climate vulnerability of the Red River Delta.  Participants discuss policies and ongoing efforts to address projected impacts of climate change, and propose solutions for building resilience for the Red River Delta.

“USAID is committed to ensuring that the critical Red River Delta receives no less emphasis than the Mekong Delta.  Analyzing and addressing climate change impacts for the entire Red River Delta system is important to health and well-being of the large population in this region,” said USAID Vietnam Mission Director Joakim Parker.  “The symposium is meant to ensure that attention to resilience in one province will not result in adverse impacts in neighboring provinces, by emphasizing a delta-wide approach in responding to climate change.”

Climate change is projected to negatively impact Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta and the Red River Delta, with farmers and low-income individuals identified as the most vulnerable groups. Some provinces in the Red River Delta have developed provincial action plans and carried out pilot projects to address climate change. However, regionally coordinated climate responses have not been developed.  Through this symposium, the participants are expected to make recommendations on a comprehensive and durable climate change action plan for the whole Red River Delta Region.

The event is part of the USAID-funded Vietnam Forests and Deltas Program, a five-year program, whose objectives are to help build resilience for people, livelihoods and places as well as to assist Vietnam in reducing emission from forestry and agriculture sectors.