Australia to fund US$2 million in joint environment project
By My Tran in HCMC
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr on Wednesday said his nation will support an Australian-Vietnamese partnership to help scientists understand and plan for the impacts of climate change during his visit to Vietnam earlier this week, announced the Australian consulate general in HCMC in a statement.
Carr said Australia will contribute US$2.03 million to the project, building on the existing partnership between Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and scientists from Vietnam’s Ministry for Natural Resources and Environment and the Hanoi University of Science.
Carr said: “Having more localized projections will help identify the people and sectors at risk and support Vietnam in the challenging task of prioritizing its climate change response.
“The fundamental goal of the aid program is overcoming poverty and addressing climate change, which is critical to protecting and improving the lives of those who depend on the natural environment for their income, food and water.
“The partnership will create a foundation in Vietnam for experts to analyze, understand and undertake future climate change projections. This will include hosting Vietnamese PhD students who will help analyze data and climate modeling at the CSIRO in Australia.”
Localized climate change projections will help target Australia’s climate change assistance, including its partnership with Germany which contributes to climate change adaptation and coastal protection in three vulnerable provinces in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region.