Vietnam co-hosts UN seminar on post-2015 development agenda

The Permanent Representative Delegations to the United Nations (UN) of Vietnam, Sweden and some other countries together with the UN Sustainable Development Solution Network (UNSDSN) hosted a seminar on the post-2015 development agenda and a new climate change agreement in New York.
The Permanent Representative Delegations to the United Nations (UN) ofVietnam, Sweden and some other countries together with the UNSustainable Development Solution Network (UNSDSN) hosted a seminar onthe post-2015 development agenda and a new climate change agreement inNew York.

In her opening speech, Ambassador Nguyen PhuongNga, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, stressed that 2015is an important year as the UN is working diligently to build apost-2015 development agenda while trying to reach an agreement onclimate change as a part of implementing the United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

She notedthat sustainable development will not be achieved if challenges ofclimate change are not managed successfully, and vice versa, sustainabledevelopment goals will provide a framework and driving force for aclimate change deal.

The ambassador took the occasionto brief the audience on Vietnam’s efforts in the related fields,including the designing and implementation of national strategies onclimate change and green growth.

She called on theinternational community to provide assistance to Vietnam, either in theforms of finance or technology and capacity-building.

At theseminar, participants agreed that climate change is one of the biggestchallenges to sustainable development and that countries should focus onreaching a global agreement on climate change during the 21 stConference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris late thisyear.

Participants also stressed the need to mobilise resourcesfor coping with climate change, including implementing a commitment tocontribute 100 billion USD to the Green Climate Fund.-VNA

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After undergoing health checks, all three sea turtles are released back into their natural habitat in the presence of authorities, local residents and tourists. (Photo: VNA)

Quang Tri authorities release three endangered sea turtles back to the wild

The three turtles, each weighing around 1.5 kilogrammes with shells measuring about 25 centimetres long and 20 centimetres wide, are green sea turtles. They were accidentally caught in fishing nets and found drifting at sea near Con Co waters on May 16 by fisherman Bui Dinh Thuy in Cua Viet commune during a fishing trip.

A rare turtle is transported to Cuc Phuong National Park for care and rehabilitation ahead of its eventual release back into the wild. (Photo published by VNA)

Rare turtles returned to Vietnam under CITES

The shipment includes several endangered Vietnamese species such as the Indochinese box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons), Bourret’s box turtle (Cuora bourreti), keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii), and black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda spengleri), all considered highly endangered and increasingly threatened in the wild by habitat destruction, poaching, and illegal trade.

Representatives of the Ngoc Lam Border Guard Station under the Nghe An Border Guard Command and Son Lam commune's police hand over a pangolin voluntarily surrendered by a local resident to the wildlife conservation centre at Pu Mat National Park. (Photo: VNA)

Nghe An residents voluntarily hand over rare pangolins for conservation

On May 11, the Quy Chau Forest Protection Department, along with local police and authorities, took in a critically endangered pangolin, handed over by a resident. The animal was discovered a day earlier by Thai Doan Tuan, from Viet Huong village in Quy Chau commune, after it wandered into his garden. Recognising it as a protected Sunda pangolin, he contacted authorities for assistance.

A 2kg pangolin is released back into the wild at the Pu Huong Nature Reserve on May 6, 2026. (Photo published by VNA)

Nghe An releases rare pangolin back to the wild

Pangolins, scaly mammals capable of curling into a ball for self-defence, are classified as critically endangered and are strictly protected under both Vietnamese and international law.

At the working session (Photo: Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration)

Vietnam, Sri Lanka share experience in hydrometeorology

Both sides expressed confidence that continued dialogue and knowledge-sharing will deepen cooperation in hydrometeorology, helping enhance disaster response capacity and climate change adaptation in the years ahead.

Chac Den Cave was recently discovered in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in Quang Tri province. (Photo: VNA)

26 new caves discovered in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park

The new findings comprise several large caves with complex structures and high scientific value, including Thien Cung Cave, measuring 4,206 metres – the longest cave identified during the survey, Nuoc Lan Cave (2,721 metres), Ma Dom Cave (1,257 metres) and Cha Ngheo Cave (583 metres).