Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh delivered aspeech at the United Nations Climate Change Summit held in New York onSeptember 23, affirming Vietnam’s commitment to join the global effortsto address the issue.
Following is the full text of Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
“The 5th Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) again confirms that climate change is first and foremost causedby the human. Climate change is becoming more and more complex andunpredictable. Without prompt action, climate change will develop withthe worst scenario.
" A four degree Celsius increase intemperature, ice melting, sea level rise are major hazards as a resultof climate change, threatening every nation, irrespective of big orsmall, rich or poor.
“Unfortunately, international efforts havenot brought about expected results. People’s lives, property andlivelihoods not only in poor and vulnerable countries but also in richnations will be seriously affected.
“As a developing country,Vietnam is considered one of few countries most severely affected byclimate change, particularly by the sea level rise. However, Vietnam isnot a country emitting high level of greenhouse gases. If sea levelrises 1 metre, 40 percent of the Mekong Delta, the biggest riceproduction area in Vietnam will be inundated.
“Therefore, atthis Conference, we should respond to the call of Secretary General BanKi Moon by showing our determination and working together to addressclimate change.
“To that end, it is Vietnam’s view that, firstof all, we need to show our political will and agreement to make ourcommitments stronger, inheriting the results of international climatechange negotiations in order to establish a new global legally bindingframework to achieve the goal of limiting the world to a less than twodegree Celsius rise in global temperature.
“The global agreementmust reflect the principle of equity, common but differentiatedresponsibilities of the United Nations Framework Convention on ClimateChange (UNFCCC).
“It must include adaptation, mitigation,finance, technology transfer, capacity building and means ofimplementation; ensure clarity and transparency of information relatingto national contributions. National contributions must be based onnational capabilities and circumstances, taking into account thedevelopment needs of developing countries, and historical responsibilityof the developed countries.
“On that a basis, Vietnam calls ondeveloped countries to increase commitments and actions to mitigategreenhouse gas emissions under the second commitment period of the KyotoProtocol, provide finance and technology for developing countries tomitigate and adapt to climate change in accordance with each country’sconditions. In this regard, finance plays a crucial role.
“Beingaware of serious challenges in responding to climate change, along withthe support of the international community, Vietnam has tried its bestto implement adaptation actions. The National Strategy on Climate Changeand Green Growth Strategy have been approved and implemented to protectthe right to a safe life and development of the Vietnamese people.
“Alongwith priorities on adaptation activities, Vietnam has taken measures tomitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, Vietnam aims to reducegreenhouse gas emissions by 8-10 percent compared to 2010, reduce energyconsumption per GDP by 1-1.5 percent per year.
“Vietnam alsoplans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in energy activities by 10-20percent compared to the Conventional Development Scenario.
“Currently,Vietnam is in the process of drafting the report the “IntendedNationally Determined Contributions” (INDCs) which defines Vietnam'scontribution on mitigation, adaptation and the need for finance,technology transfer and capacity building to contribute the goal oflimiting the world to a less than two degree Celsius rise in globaltemperature.
“At this Conference, Vietnam is committed to workingclosely with the international community and development partners inthe negotiation on climate change in order to achieve objectives set bythe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, contributingto the promotion of a negotiation process for a Global Agreement onClimate Change in the 21st Conference of the Parties on Climate Change(COP21) in Paris in 2015.”-VNA
Following is the full text of Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
“The 5th Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) again confirms that climate change is first and foremost causedby the human. Climate change is becoming more and more complex andunpredictable. Without prompt action, climate change will develop withthe worst scenario.
" A four degree Celsius increase intemperature, ice melting, sea level rise are major hazards as a resultof climate change, threatening every nation, irrespective of big orsmall, rich or poor.
“Unfortunately, international efforts havenot brought about expected results. People’s lives, property andlivelihoods not only in poor and vulnerable countries but also in richnations will be seriously affected.
“As a developing country,Vietnam is considered one of few countries most severely affected byclimate change, particularly by the sea level rise. However, Vietnam isnot a country emitting high level of greenhouse gases. If sea levelrises 1 metre, 40 percent of the Mekong Delta, the biggest riceproduction area in Vietnam will be inundated.
“Therefore, atthis Conference, we should respond to the call of Secretary General BanKi Moon by showing our determination and working together to addressclimate change.
“To that end, it is Vietnam’s view that, firstof all, we need to show our political will and agreement to make ourcommitments stronger, inheriting the results of international climatechange negotiations in order to establish a new global legally bindingframework to achieve the goal of limiting the world to a less than twodegree Celsius rise in global temperature.
“The global agreementmust reflect the principle of equity, common but differentiatedresponsibilities of the United Nations Framework Convention on ClimateChange (UNFCCC).
“It must include adaptation, mitigation,finance, technology transfer, capacity building and means ofimplementation; ensure clarity and transparency of information relatingto national contributions. National contributions must be based onnational capabilities and circumstances, taking into account thedevelopment needs of developing countries, and historical responsibilityof the developed countries.
“On that a basis, Vietnam calls ondeveloped countries to increase commitments and actions to mitigategreenhouse gas emissions under the second commitment period of the KyotoProtocol, provide finance and technology for developing countries tomitigate and adapt to climate change in accordance with each country’sconditions. In this regard, finance plays a crucial role.
“Beingaware of serious challenges in responding to climate change, along withthe support of the international community, Vietnam has tried its bestto implement adaptation actions. The National Strategy on Climate Changeand Green Growth Strategy have been approved and implemented to protectthe right to a safe life and development of the Vietnamese people.
“Alongwith priorities on adaptation activities, Vietnam has taken measures tomitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, Vietnam aims to reducegreenhouse gas emissions by 8-10 percent compared to 2010, reduce energyconsumption per GDP by 1-1.5 percent per year.
“Vietnam alsoplans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in energy activities by 10-20percent compared to the Conventional Development Scenario.
“Currently,Vietnam is in the process of drafting the report the “IntendedNationally Determined Contributions” (INDCs) which defines Vietnam'scontribution on mitigation, adaptation and the need for finance,technology transfer and capacity building to contribute the goal oflimiting the world to a less than two degree Celsius rise in globaltemperature.
“At this Conference, Vietnam is committed to workingclosely with the international community and development partners inthe negotiation on climate change in order to achieve objectives set bythe United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, contributingto the promotion of a negotiation process for a Global Agreement onClimate Change in the 21st Conference of the Parties on Climate Change(COP21) in Paris in 2015.”-VNA
