Reporter (PV): Could you please tell us a little about the recent impacts of climate change on Ninh Binh as well as the trends of those impacts in the future?
Comrade Nguyen Tien Dung: Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity today due to its complexity and increasing level of impact on a global scale. It can be affirmed that climate change has, is and will impact almost every aspect of social life.
For Ninh Binh province, climate change has had various noticeable impacts in recent times. Increasing global temperatures have led to rising sea levels, significantly affecting coastal areas and major river systems of Ninh Binh such as Gia Vien, Kim Son and Nho Quan. Saltwater intrusion in the past 10 years has been worsening, not only penetrating deeper into the fields but also lasting longer. In the coastal area of Kim Son, saltwater intrusion has encroached 20-30 km into the river mouths on the Day River and 10-15 km on the Vac River.
According to statistics from 2010 to present, most localities in the province have experienced drought during the winter-spring rice irrigation period, especially in Nho Quan, Gia Vien districts, Tam Diep city... the area of drought and water shortage accounts for an average of 15-20% of the cultivated area. In addition, in Ninh Binh province, some extreme weather phenomena also frequently appear such as prolonged intense heat or hail.
It is easy to see that climate change can cause changes in rainfall patterns and water volume, disrupting the irrigation system of Ninh Binh. Changes in rainfall and rainy seasons can increase the risk of floods or droughts, making it difficult to manage and use water resources in the area. Typically, in the past 30 years, the communes in the flood diversion and flood discharge areas of Nho Quan and Gia Vien districts have suffered 15 flood diversions, the right area of Hoang Long 10 times, and the communes outside the dike have been flooded every year, greatly affecting the economic life of the people in the area.
In addition, climate change affects ecosystems and flora and fauna; negatively impacts agricultural production; affects water resources; affects forest ecosystems; affects land resources... The increase in extreme climate phenomena also has a certain impact on tourist activities and festivals, especially at the beginning of the year...
Reporter: Sir, in the face of increasingly complex developments of climate change, what specific solutions has Ninh Binh province had to respond?
Comrade Nguyen Tien Dung: In recent times, the province has implemented a number of specific solutions to minimize impacts and enhance resilience. In leadership and direction, all levels, sectors and localities have paid attention to climate change response; directed units under their management to strengthen coordination in implementing the integration of climate change response activities into specialized management activities; developed proactive solutions to prevent, avoid and mitigate natural disasters, adapt to climate change; prepared plans and conditions for preventing, avoiding and mitigating natural disasters, proactively handling the worst-case scenarios affecting production, people's lives and ensuring national defense and security.
The work of propaganda, dissemination, legal education, raising awareness and sense of responsibility for environmental protection, natural disaster prevention and control, and response to climate change has been focused on and strengthened. Districts and cities have reviewed, supplemented and adjusted the development planning of sectors, fields, and socio-economic development in the area; actively developed and implemented projects and tasks to proactively adapt to climate change in coastal areas and prevent natural disasters in mountainous areas, such as: Planting mangrove forests to protect coastal areas against coastal erosion; building a system of sea dykes, embankments, sluices, building a monitoring system, warning of flash floods and landslides; planning and building flexible liquefied gas, wind power, waste-to-energy power plants, etc.
The province has also focused on protecting and restoring water resources, including maintaining reservoir balance, controlling water pollution, and building rainwater collection and storage systems. In addition, it has promoted forest protection and restoration, and limited illegal deforestation. Along with that, it has implemented training, coaching and support programs to improve farmers' resilience to climate change; including providing knowledge on sustainable farming methods, efficient use of water resources and application of technology in agricultural production, environmental protection and adaptation to climate change. It has paid attention to and invested in building a monitoring, warning and response system for incidents and disasters related to climate change, such as floods and droughts, to help provide early warning and provide effective response measures to minimize losses and risks to the community.
On the other hand, in order to promote the use of renewable energy, the province is encouraging the use of renewable energy such as solar energy and wind energy, helping to reduce dependence on fossil energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Actively research, select and introduce new plant and animal varieties suitable to the natural conditions of the province; flexibly convert the structure of plants and animals; apply high technology in production, apply good, organic processes, in an organic direction to increase productivity and save resources; investigate and assess major emission sources in the area.
PV: Many people believe that the most important thing is to have the participation of the community, and moreover, we should focus on using indigenous knowledge in solutions to adapt to climate change. What is your opinion on this issue?
Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung: It is true that community participation and the use of indigenous knowledge are very important in responding to climate change. Community participation helps ensure that solutions are appropriate to the specific needs and situations of each locality; creating commitment and consensus in implementing response measures. Using indigenous knowledge is an important factor in developing solutions to adapt to climate change. Each geographical area has its own characteristics and different issues related to climate change.
Using indigenous knowledge helps to better understand specific impacts and solutions that are appropriate for each geographical area. In addition, using indigenous knowledge encourages buy-in and acceptance from local communities.
Each community and local area has a diversity of culture, knowledge and technology. Using and combining these resources in responding to climate change enhances adaptive capacity and creativity in finding effective solutions. Relying on external solutions without taking advantage of the internal potential of the community and local area may make it difficult to implement and sustain response measures.
In summary, community participation and the use of indigenous knowledge help ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of response measures and create consensus and commitment to mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Reporter: It can be said that climate change and rising sea levels are inevitable trends that we must live with and adapt to. As a standing agency advising on this field, how will the Department of Natural Resources and Environment continue to advise and plan actions to respond to this issue, sir?
Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung: As a standing agency advising on climate change, the Ninh Binh Department of Natural Resources and Environment will continue to advise the province to direct and strengthen coordination, urge departments and branches to effectively implement the Action Plan to respond to climate change approved by the Provincial People's Committee for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. At the same time, advise the Provincial People's Committee to evaluate the results of the implementation of the Action Plan to respond to climate change for this period and develop and update climate change scenarios for Ninh Binh province on the basis of the latest climate change and sea level rise scenarios announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The focus is on investigating, surveying, making statistics, inventorying greenhouse gases, making a list of facilities emitting greenhouse gases and implementing activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province. Building resilience, including investing in flood prevention infrastructure, strengthening flood warning systems, protecting biodiversity and mangrove forests; developing adaptation solutions in agriculture, transportation, urban areas, tourism and other industries. Protecting and restoring ecosystems such as forests, biodiversity conservation areas, biosphere reserves, these are very important ecosystems to minimize the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels. Strengthening propaganda, raising awareness, creating consistency in the community to take action to minimize those impacts.
Along with that, it is necessary to strengthen and mobilize investment resources to respond to climate change; focus on investing in research and applying science and technology to respond to climate change, focusing on performing well scientific and technological tasks; prioritizing activities to respond to climate change, activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, environmental treatment, and natural disaster mitigation...
PV: Thank you very much, comrade!
Song Nguyen (performed)
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