|Central Da Nang City at night. The city is one of six urban areas where the potential impact of climate change will be assessed under the first phase of a project recently approved by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Ha
HA NOI (VNS) — A list of urban areas forecast to suffer the harshest effects of climate change is scheduled to be completed by 2020 under a project recently approved by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.
The list, which includes 41 cities, aims to encourage urban planning changes in these areas so they can cope with natural disasters and other effects of climate change. It will focus on coastal cities vulnerable to floods, rising sea levels and salinity intrusion as well as inland cities that will likely see flash floods, landslides and underground water reduction.
Under the first phase, from now to 2015, the Ministry of Construction will co-operate with relevant agencies to assess the potential impact of climate change on six key cities (Ca Mau, Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi, Hai Phong and HCM City). The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will ensure that construction planning in these cities meets the requirement of coping with this situation.
The second phase of the project, between 2016 and 2020, will focus on 35 provincial-level cities in northern mountainous localities as well as in the northern and central coastal region, Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta and Central Highlands.
Funding will come from the State budget, although Hai also encouraged the ministries to seek out official development assistance and international co-operation. — VNS