In order to develop specific action plans for the Support Programme to Respond to Climate Change (SP-RCC) for 2015 and beyond, it is essential to increase the coordination between ministries, sectors, localities and donors, said representatives of the World Bank (WB).

At a meeting with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and SP-RCC donors in Hanoi on September 30, with a view to reviewing the implementation of the programme, they emphasised the WB’s commitment to continue supporting Vietnam to develop its policy framework on climate change and to promote green growth in the future.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha highlighted the importance of the SP-RCC, saying that comprehensive assessments of the programme must be made to identify limitations and make necessary adjustments.

He said it was essential to promote cooperation, share information and create a forum to work out appropriate policies for each region.

Launched in 2009, the SP-RCC aims to boost the performance of the national target programme on climate change response. It received attention from a number of ministries, sectors and localities throughout the country and benefitted from the technical and financial assistance offered by the international community.

The programme is supported by six sponsors, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the French Development Agency, the Australian Government, the Canadian International Development Agency, the WB, and the Republic of Korea’s Eximbank.

The programme helped Vietnam’s ministries improve their legal documents and set up a policy framework on climate change adaptation, contributing to the implementation of the Party and State’s climate change policy.

In the meeting, donors said financial assistance should be allocated to priority and urgent climate change projects. They also gave recommendations on policy and the monitoring and evaluation of the programme’s implementation.-VNA