NAM DINH, September 11, 2015 -- U.S. Ambassador Ted Osius and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Judith Garber today joined representatives from four coastal provinces of the Red River Delta and development partners to launch the Red River Delta Adaptation and Youth (READY) program, which will promote effective and innovative climate change adaptation (CCA) initiatives in Vietnam’s Red River Delta.

This three-year project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), a Vietnamese organization, will engage youth to help in awareness raising and implementation of practical measures.

“The ability of young people to identify risks and come up with ways to improve the environment in the four Red River Delta provinces is vital to the future success of this beautiful region,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Judith Garber at the launch.

In addition to youth engagement, USAID’s cooperation will help district authorities lead CCA initiatives and support the role of civil society in the climate change sector.

The project will directly work in four districts of four provinces in the Red River Delta: Giao Thuy (Nam Dinh province), Tien Hai (Thai Binh province), Kim Son (Ninh Binh province) in the RRD Biosphere Reserve and Cat Hai (Hai Phong city) in the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve. However, the project is designed to be able to be scaled up to provide similar benefits to communities in other districts, extending the impact and sustainability of the project.