Quang Ninh proactively responds to climate change

Storm No. 3 (Yagi) has caused serious consequences for the province, negatively affecting production, business and people's livelihoods. The storm also left important lessons on forecasting and responding to natural disasters; and challenges in responding to climate change in the coming time.

Lessons from storm number 3

Storm No. 3 left heavy losses in Quang Ninh. Immediately after the storm, the work of overcoming the consequences was deployed simultaneously, synchronously and quickly by all levels, sectors, units and localities. Essential goods, services and production were basically restored; some areas had faster changes than expected such as education, health, electricity, telecommunications, tourism... The work of supporting people to overcome the consequences of storms and floods and stabilize their lives was proactive and timely. Up to now, people's lives have basically returned to normal.

Ha Long City Youth Union members clean up the marine environment after storm No. 3. — Youth Union members of Ha Long City clean up the marine environment after storm No. 3.

In fact, in response to storm No. 3, to minimize damage, it is necessary to take the initiative - this is considered a prerequisite. This is clearly demonstrated through the strong leadership from the central to local levels. In Quang Ninh, relevant levels and sectors have focused on closely monitoring the situation, implementing emergency response solutions before, during and after the storm. Implementing the directions of the Prime Minister, central ministries and sectors, the Provincial Party Committee has issued 7 documents on response and recovery work for storm No. 3; the Provincial People's Committee has issued 26 documents on response and recovery work for storm No. 3; urgently reviewing, updating, supplementing and proactively implementing specific plans to respond to storm No. 3 of localities and units; immediately implementing storm prevention and control measures according to the motto "3 before, 4 on-site", informing people about the storm's developments.

The province established and organized 26 working groups to inspect and direct the preparation for response to and recovery from storm No. 3 in localities; members of the Provincial Party Committee, the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Council, and leaders of the Provincial People's Committee directly inspected and directed the preparation for response to and recovery from storm No. 3 in assigned areas; leaders of district and commune levels proactively organized working groups to inspect and review vulnerable locations and positions, direct storm prevention in the area, arrange forces on duty at spillways and vulnerable areas; guide the anchoring of boats in shelter areas, and organize the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas at risk of landslides and flooding.

The province thoroughly grasps the motto of natural disaster prevention and control, which must be continuously ensured early, from afar, and prevented before there is any risk; must always review and detect the stages that need attention and consolidation; heighten vigilance, not be subjective; do not lose your composure in the face of situations; thoroughly grasp and organize natural disaster prevention, control, and response according to the motto of "4 on-site", "putting people's health and lives first and foremost". The province organized the evacuation of 3,155 households from areas at risk of being affected and unsafe; successfully searched and rescued 111 people who were drifting at sea, taking shelter, or stranded on islands to shore; visited, encouraged, and promptly supported families with deceased people.

Ba Che people clear the forest after the storm. — People in Ba Che district clear the forest after storm No. 3. *Photo: Hoang Nga*

To overcome the consequences after the storm, the province mobilized the participation of the entire political system, all classes of people, and businesses; promoted the spiritual factor, promoted the noble tradition of Quang Ninh people, united, mobilized the combined strength to overcome difficulties and challenges. In which, mobilized all forces to search and rescue and help people clean up after the storm; nearly 71,000 officers and soldiers, 1,580 cars, 110 excavators, 465 ships and boats participated in search and rescue work and helped people clean up after the storm.

In particular, the work of overcoming damage is carried out synchronously, both urgently, immediately as well as comprehensively, long-term, with urgent, short-term and long-term solutions, and appropriate resource allocation. The province has allocated 1,000 billion VND from the budget to carry out the work of overcoming damage, stabilizing life and restoring production and business activities; organizing a meeting of the Provincial People's Council to issue urgent mechanisms and policies to support people to overcome storm No. 3: Support tuition fees; increase social protection levels; support house repairs; support ship salvage. In addition, the province has researched and proposed urgent support mechanisms and policies, reported to competent authorities for decision to promptly support damaged subjects to soon restore production. In the long term, continue to research strong enough policies; research and develop socio-economic recovery programs after natural disasters.

Ha Long City, where the storm directly made landfall, on September 9 launched a 7-day and night peak campaign to overcome the consequences of storm No. 3, aiming to restore the image of the heritage city, bringing people's lives and business activities back to normal soon. During the 7-day campaign, the city mobilized nearly 65,000 participants; about 2,000 vehicles and machines for environmental sanitation; established 541 volunteer groups in villages and neighborhoods with thousands of participants to carry out sanitation work and overcome the consequences of natural disasters. With the joint efforts and consensus of the entire political system, people and businesses, Ha Long successfully carried out the campaign at lightning speed, quickly bringing all economic and social activities in the area back to normal as before storm No. 3 made landfall.

Need long term solution

Storm No. 3 further proves that climate change associated with extreme weather has become a clear trend. How to respond to extreme natural disasters and minimize damage is an urgent question that needs to be answered. Recognizing the risks and challenges of climate change to the goal of sustainable development, the province has issued many documents and plans to transform from "brown" to "green". In particular, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 5535/QD-UBND (dated December 30, 2019) on approving the Provincial Action Plan to Respond to Climate Change for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, with the goal of assessing the impact of climate change on various sectors to have adaptation solutions, ensuring the lives of local people.

There are 3 groups of solutions to respond to climate change. The group of solutions to adapt to climate change includes specific solutions for each field: Water resources; agriculture; planning and urban; meteorology - hydrology; science and technology; health and public health; culture, sports and tourism. The group of solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions includes the following solutions: Inventorying greenhouse gases and promoting the development of the carbon market; promoting the economical and efficient use of energy; developing and using new energy; renewable energy in industry, construction and transportation. The group of solutions to support climate change response includes: Building a database on climate change; strengthening infrastructure, developing human resources and training professional forces in search and rescue, disaster prevention and climate change.

Overnight cruises on Ha Long Bay use glass cups and paper straws to reduce plastic waste and protect the environment.

In recent years, the province has taken many measures to improve its capacity to prevent and reduce damage when there is heavy rain in the agricultural sector; review the capacity of reservoirs, irrigation works and 400km of dykes of all kinds in the area. Mr. Doan Manh Phuong, Head of the Irrigation Sub-Department, Chief of the Office of the Provincial Committee for Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Disaster Prevention, said: From 2021-2024, the province has spent more than 1,895 billion VND to implement 156 tasks and projects serving disaster prevention, focusing mainly on building and upgrading reservoirs, maintaining dykes, building storm shelters, renovating and upgrading drainage canals, planting, caring for and protecting forests, etc.

The Provincial Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Disaster Prevention has invested heavily in disaster prevention and early warning, such as: Installing 75 automatic rain gauges in vulnerable areas frequently affected by natural disasters and upstream of large reservoirs; 11 hydrometeorological and oceanographic stations connected to the information pages of the General Department of Hydrometeorology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to issue quality warnings, especially when there is heavy and prolonged rain.

In the long term, the province will propose disaster prevention and control solutions suitable for each region and each type of terrain, develop principles and mechanisms for coordinating the implementation of disaster risk management measures, and integrate them into industry and sector development programs into disaster prevention and control...

In addition, maintain the forest coverage rate of 55%; renovate the technical infrastructure of existing urban areas; strengthen the system of river dykes, sea dykes, reservoirs, and disaster prevention and control works, adapt to climate change; improve the resilience of the infrastructure system to climate change; establish a monitoring and evaluation system for climate change adaptation activities; build and update the disaster prevention and control database in the province. At the same time, implement plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; have a roadmap to replace coal and gas-fired thermal power plants with renewable energy, aiming for zero net emissions by 2050.

The province also carries out nature restoration actions: Encouraging the use of green materials, construction, development of green infrastructure, green buildings, green energy consumption in urban areas; focusing on implementing projects on urban plastic waste management; afforestation, forest restoration and regeneration; nature conservation, biodiversity; environmental improvement and restoration of remaining polluted areas; collection and treatment of urban and residential wastewater... At the same time, develop and promulgate mechanisms and policies to promote investment and foreign support for activities to respond to climate change and rising sea levels in the province.

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