On Dec 5, Vietnam and Norway signed a broad joint declaration on REDD+ cooperation, recognizing Vietnam’s plan for a 20 percent reduction in emissions from the agriculture and rural development sector by 2020, which includes forestry.
Norway’s Minister of the Environment, Bård Vegar Solhjell signed the climate agreement with Vietnam during the climate summit in Doha, Qatar. To the left, Vietnams Minister of the Environment Cao Duc Phat. (Photo: Jon Berg)
The declaration also highlights Viet Nam’s plans to further develop policies and measures that address the drivers of deforestation, and increase overall forest cover to 45 per cent by 2020.
“With this cooperation, we wish to contribute to Vietnam’s efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, including measures to protect the natural forests and unique biodiversity by controlling illegal logging, improving forest monitoring, and involving local communities while strengthening their rights and participation,” said Norway’s Minister of the Environment, Bård Vegar Solhjell.
“Vietnam is one of few developing countries with concrete plans to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, before a new climate agreement enters into force,” he added.
With its location in the huge, low-lying Mekong Delta, Vietnam is one of the countries of the world that is most at risk of the consequences of climate change. This represents a threat to the country’s continued economic growth and social development. Vietnam is the world’s second-largest rice exporter, currently feeding 100 million people beyond its own borders.
“When forests disappear, so does nature’s own buffer against climate change. Rising sea level, erosion and salt water intrusion as a result of climate change would have catastrophic consequences for Vietnam’s ability to produce food and, indeed, for the whole region,” Minister Solhjell said.
