The one-metre rise in the seas around Viet Nam
predicted by scientists will not happen overnight but gradually over the next
decades, giving the country time to plan measures to deal with it, an American
coastal management expert has said.
The
first step was to research into the effects of the rise and the second was to
draft strategies, Ralph Cantral, senior advisor to the US’ Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource
Management, told a press conference in HCMCity
yesterday.
"The
three types of things to be done are protecting the land, adapting to global
climate change, and retreating the land," he said, explaining that the
first task would be expensive due to the huge cost of building dykes or
embankments along the coast.
He
said making all structures stronger and moving people to safer places would be
a better option.
The
US
had practical experience in dealing with the phenomenon after a few deltas and
several lowland areas, including residential, commercial, and industrial sites
were inundated, he explained.
The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which includes the Office of
Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, has worked with the Viet NamSea
and Island Association to develop a regional climate-change scenario through a
project in the northern provinces
of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong.
He
will visit Ha Noi today to discuss with National Assembly deputies legislative
measures for climate change-related activities.
