Cooperation in dealing with climate change, especially developing green transport, is a big part of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the UK, UK Ambassador to Vietnam Antony Stokes said.

Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop entitled, “Climate change response and green vehicles promotion” in Hanoi on Feb. 17, Ambassador Stokes said that this is a potential field for future cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport and the UK Department of Transport’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

The event, with support from the UK, marks the first step in cooperation between the two ministries, especially in green and sustainable transport in the future, Stokes said.

He said climate change is one of the biggest challenges of humanity and Vietnam is one of countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels.

Green transport not only brings opportunities to reduce the impacts of climate change and move towards using energy efficiently – it also stimulates the economy, he said.

Vice Minister of Transport, Le Manh Hung said that rising sea levels caused by climate change may significantly impact transport systems and buildings under construction, especially in coastal areas.

To cope with this issue, the transport ministry has built coastal roads equipped with dykes to prevent seawater and strengthened coastal roads and buildings, especially in the Mekong Delta.

Hung said that the ministry has made public its action plan to respond to climate change for the 2011-2015 period, which aims to enhance capacity to cope with climate change for the sustainable development of transport./.