The General Department of Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has announced eight sets of criteria for climate change adapted eco-villages in the Mekong Delta region.

According to these criteria, eco-villages are those that ensure each household’s access to sufficient and safe water and wastewater treatment systems, collect and sort solid waste at source, use clean energy, and have communal houses.

The criteria were devised by the General Department’s Centre of Environmental Consultancy and Technology after 24 months of piloting some climate change adapted energy efficient models in Dam Doi district, the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

Participants at a workshop on October 31 said that the building of such an eco-village model is necessary for coping with climate change and sea level rises.

However, it should take account of natural features and local customs as well as criteria for building new rural areas to harmonise economic development and environmental protection, they noted.-VNA