Children learn about climate change and videography
Many NGOs said they would be ready to share their experience and research with the ministry to help in these efforts, adding that education on climate change in Vietnam should be considered a priority.
Live and Learn, Plan, Save the Children and the Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance, Belgium (VVOB) are the first NGOs to have expressed interest in this multi-organisational cooperation.
During the seminar, officials from some NGOs shared their experience in natural disaster mitigation as well as education on climate change. Most of these organisations have focused on educating children and young people as the most effective means.
Aware that children will be the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and the possible natural disasters that could come along with it, Plan has started a programme that allowed children a mountainous commune of central Quang Tri province to make a video by themselves. The results of this footage will be used in education programmes on climate change.
In the meantime, Live and Learn has chosen young people as a focus of their activities. It has been building up a Vietnam Green Generation Network that has been expanded into 12 cities and provinces across Vietnam with over 50 environment clubs.
Many other organisations such as Save the Children, Action Centre for City Development, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have also expressed a desire to link up with the education sector in the fight against climate change.
Vietnam is listed among five countries that could be most vulnerable to climate change. By some estimates, by the year 2100 Vietnam’s average temperature may go up by between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius, while its mean sea level may increase by over one metre.
Other effects of the more extreme climate may be more frequent and severe storms, floods and droughts. The impact on the ecology, society and economy of Vietnam could be enormous.