VN's proposed fund for climate change applauded

Poznan (VNA) - Environment ministers of a number of countries have raised
support for Vietnam 's proposal to establish a special programme to
assist the five nations most affected by the rise of sea level as a result
of climate change.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan sought the backing during
his separate meetings with the UN Under-Secretary General and UN Environment
Programme Executive Director, Achim Steiner, and ministers in charge of
environmental issues from the UK, the Netherlands, France, the Czech
Republic and Sweden on the sidelines of the UN high-level Climate Change
Conference (COP 14) that took place in Poznan, Poland, on Dec. 11-12.

The deputy PM briefed on the real situation of climate change in Vietnam
and its government's moves to cope with the issue, especially the rising sea
level.

He emphasised the need to boost international cooperation in response to
climate change, saying developed countries should take the largest share of
responsibility for reducing greenhouse emissions, accelerating necessary
measures, and providing effective assistance for developing nations in this
field.

Deputy PM Nhan suggested that developed countries should make financial
contributions in phases so as to lessen their burdens and enable these funds
to start operation soon.

Steiner and the ministers expressed sympathy with Vietnam over negative
impacts posed by climate change, and put forth concrete proposals to speed
up the current cooperation projects to help Vietnam with human resources
development, technical assistance, technology and capital.

Deputy PM Nhan also met with head delegates from Egypt , Bahamas and
Suriname - three nations alongside with Vietnam are likely to be
hardest hit by the rise of sea level - to discuss the establishment of the
above said programme.

These representatives all applauded Vietnam 's initiative and pledged to
seek ways to realise this idea.-Enditem