(VNF) - The National Committee on Climate Change (NCCC) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment co-organised a high-level meeting in Hanoi on October 25th with UNDP and GIZ GmbH to devise a plan for the implementation of the Paris Agreement in Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, Vice Chairman of National Committee on Climate Change, chaired the event.

The Paris Agreement was adopted during COP 21 in December 2015 and was signed by 180 countries in April 2016 in New York. So far, it has been ratified by 83 countries and comes into effect on November 4th, 2016.

As a country that is severely affected by climate change, Vietnam is not only dedicated to complying with the legal procedures for the Paris Agreement approval process, but also to actively developing an implementation plan for 2030. In addition to national efforts, this will require support from the international community.

The high-level meeting aims to facilitate an exchange between the members of the NCCC and development partners on nation’s efforts to implement the Paris Agreement based on the latest scientific findings on the impact of climate change.

Research shows that climate change is occurring at a much faster rate than previous predictions have accounted for. Viet Nam will have to step up its climate change response efforts and comply with the Paris Agreement. The implementation plan so far includes the systematic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, adaption measures, resource mobilisation, transparency and capacity development within State management.

The Support Program to Respond to Climate Change (SP-RCC program) in the 2016-2020 period is a key component of the implementation plan for the Agreement in Vietnam. It second phase builds upon the achievements of the 2009-2015 program and fully complies with Vietnam’s national priorities and the Paris Agreement.

The SP-RCC program involves the continued support from development partners on policy development, capacity building and the implementation of climate change projects.

The second phase of the program focuses on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and has received approximately USD500 million in funding for 2016-2018./.

( VNF )