Vietnam and the UK have discussed ways to promote bilateral cooperation in coping with climate change and controlling environmental pollution during a week-long visit by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Pham Khoi Nguyen.

While in the UK from June 12-18, Minister Nguyen held working sessions with senior officials of the Department for International Development (DFID), the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

At these sessions, the minister sought the UK support for Vietnam ’s pollution reduction programmes and partners in dealing with climate change as well as building an economy with less carbon dioxide emission level.

In an interview granted to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the UK , Minister Nguyen said the UK pledged to share experiences with and assist Vietnam in weather forecast, enhance officials’ capability and technology and transfer communications.

Sscientists have warned that Vietnam is one of the five countries that will be hardest hit by climate change. As the world’s temperature is forecast to increase by between one to three degrees Celsius in 100 years, Vietnam ’s sea level will rise by one metre. If Vietnam does not have proper policies on adaptation and mitigation of climate change, the country’s food output will decrease by five percent as the two major rice baskets – the Mekong Delta and the Red River Delta – are submerge in salt water.

The UK ranks Vietnam among its first priority countries for assistance and support. The UK has helped Vietnam in coping with climate change, reducing poverty and using new energy. The UK has also joined the donor community to sponsor Vietnam ’s National Target Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (NTP) and a plan to implement the programme.

Compiled by the MONRE, the programme is expected to be submitted to the Vietnamese National Assembly for approval by the end of this year.