At the dialogue, information on the newly approved Special Report of the IPCC on the impacts of global warming of 1.50C and related global greenhouse gas emission related pathways, known as Global Warming of 1.50C, were also shared.
Deputy Minister of MONRE, Mr. Le Cong Thanh said “As one of the countries heavily impacted by climate change, Vietnam has actively implemented international commitments and efforts to cope with climate change. Vietnam has issued a Plan for the Implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, with a focus on implementing its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The dialogue focuses on issues related to the response actions to climate change in Vietnam; promoting cooperation, connection with development partners, scientific community, enterprises, organisations and individuals to response to climate change.”
Mr. Le Cong Thanh, Deputy Minister of MONRE. (Photo: Khac Kien)
The IPCC is t he global body for assessing the science related to climate change. In December 2015, when governments adopted the Paris Agreement, they invited the IPCC to prepare a report on warming of 1.50C in 2018, when nations review the Paris Agreement ath the 24th Conference of the Partie to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24), to be held in Poland in December this year. The summary for Policymakers of the report was approved at an IPCC Session in Incheon, Republic of Korea, on October 6th.
“Limiting global warming to 1.50C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented change in all aspects of society,” said IPCC Chair Lee. “With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.50C compared to 20C could go hand in with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society,” he added.
Dr. Hoesung Lee, IPCC Chairman. (Photo: Khac Kien)
According to the report, limiting global warming to 1.50C compared with 20C would reduce impacts on ecosystems, human health and well-being, making it easier to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“The IPCC report highlights the severe climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.50C, but the time to act is rapidly closing” said Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Country Director. “A ‘climate doi moi’ is needed as fundamental as the economic ‘doi moi’ that Viet Nam adopted 40 years ago” she added to bring about rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and boost green jobs for a more resilient sustainable society.
Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, Ms. Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. (Photo: Khac Kien)
The report highlights a number of climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.50C compared to 20C, or more. For instance, by 2100, global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of 1.50C compared with 20C. The likelihood of an Arctic Ocean free of sea ice in summer would be once per century with global warming of 1.50C, compared with at least once per decade with 20C. Coral reefs would decline by 70-90 percent with global warming of 1.50C, whereas virtually all (>99 percent) would be lost with 20C.
“One of the key messages that comes out very strongly from this report is that we are already seeing the consequences of 10C of global warming through more extreme weather and rising sea levels among other changes,” said Panmao Zhai, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I. “At the current rate of warming, the world is likely to reach 1.50C between 2030 and 2052,” he added.
The event will also include a scientific workshop and a public event hosted by the University of Viet Nam./.