On 17 and 18 September 2011, Tra Vinh University collaborated with the Institute for Sustainable Development of Southern Scientific to organize Workshop on “Sustainable Urban Development and adaptation climate change in Vietnam”. This is the second international scientific workshop (the first one was held in Hue in 2010). The workshop was attended by the scientists from RMIT University, UNISDR organization (International Strategic Program on Disaster Reduction UN), Institute for Sustainable Development of the South (SISD), Institute Vietnam Social Sciences (VASS), representatives from departments, boards of the provinces in the Mekong Delta. Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Vice Rector of TVU and representatives of the Departments, Faculties of Tra Vinh University welcomed the delegation.
Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung expressed his opinions about the problem of climate change happening: if sea level rises one meter, about 70% of land is salt water intrusion in the Mekong Delta. In Tra Vinh province, there will be 1,021 km2 (nearly 46% area) was engulfed in water.
Currently, the water salinity nearly doubled that one of last year, from 0.35% to 0.67%. He also confirmed that the workshop is an opportunity for the school to learn and to exchange with scientists; the school will continue to apply the knowledge of climate change integrated into the curriculum in related majors.
After two day workshop, scientists presented 10 research papers and had 03 major discussions about the topics: sustainable urban orientations mainly in Vietnam ; Reflection from the city registration “ 10 urgent things to help the city safe”; The opportunities and challenges in the implementation; Learning from partners and expand the campaign “Safe City”; The research priorities and potential projects.
Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Hang- Officer about Strategic Program on Disaster Reduction of the United Nations (UNISDR) said that the problem of drought and saltwater intrusion prevention needs to be exchanged; more researches at universities in the country need to be carried out. At the workshop, Ms. Pham Thi Phuong Thuy, Director of the experiment Center of Agriculture & Fisheries Faculty, TVU reported a paper with the topic “The impact of climate change and how to react in rice, shrimp and watermelon production in Tra Vinh province.”
The workshop has ended but the ideas about climate change will be in the thinking of scientists attended and of scientific research team at Tra Vinh University.
Written by Tran Hong.
