70% of Vietnamese population estimated to face threats from climate change

An estimated 70% of the Vietnamese population faces threats of more serious natural disasters caused by climate change, making it one of the most disaster-affected countries in the world.

Chairman of the Vietnam Red Cross Society Nguyen Hai Duong speaking at the event (Source: CPV)

The statement was made by Chairman of the Vietnam Red Cross Society Nguyen Hai Duong while speaking at the launching ceremony of World Disasters Report 2014 and International Disaster Risk Reduction Day, held in Hanoi on October 16.

The Vietnamese Government has taken measures to increase the country’s capacity to prevent and cope with natural calamities, including a nationwide programme on ‘Community-based disaster risk management’, already deployed in nearly half of all communes across the country, Duong said.

He stressed that the launching was held to provide agencies, organisations and the press with a deep and comprehensive view on challenges and risks facing the world, thus boosting co-ordination among the relevant ministries and agencies in adapting climate change.

Themed “Culture and risks”, the World Disasters Report 2014 studies the impacts of culture on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaption and vice versa, and how communities respond and adapt to climate change.

According to the report, the world faces huge challenges caused by disasters and calamities. In 2013, about 100 million people around the world were affected by natural disasters, 87% of whom come from Asia, the most vulnerable continent as 41% of total disasters occurred there.

Over the past two decades, catastrophes have killed 1.3 million people, affecting 4.4 billion others, and causing economic losses of over EUR1.5 trillion EUR. By 2030, the world is likely to lose an estimated EUR 328 billion, up by 300% in nearly two decades, said the report.

(Source: VNA/ Translated by Nhan Dan Online)