As reported earlier, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee’s Standing Committee, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and religious organizations has signed a collaborative programme on environmental protection and adaptation to climate change during the National conference “Promoting role of religions in environmental protection and climate change response” held in 2015.

This first meeting was designed to approve the working plan for 2016-2020 period.

Attending the event included President of the VFF Central Committee Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, Minister of the MONRE Trần Hồng Hà, Director of the Nordic Assistance to Vietnam/ Norwegian Aid (NAV/NCA) Eivind Ather, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Dương Ngọc Tấn, leaders of 14 religions, and Chairmen of the VFF Committee in several provinces and cities across the country.

During the event, the meeting participants, including leaders of 14 religions, unanimously agreed on joint actions for environmental protection and climate change response. The participants also stressed the need for enhancing awareness and understanding through propagation and education, as well as close coordination and mutual support between concerning departments and agencies at all levels, and religious organizations.

Overview of conference

According to the approved action plan, the collaborative programme for 2016-2020 period includes activities of survey and implementation of some pilot models; training for dignitaries, religious members in climate change response, reduction of disaster risks and environmental protection; organization of conferences to review and expand the successful models in religious communities, and annual meeting to review the implementation of the collaborative programme by the Steering Committee./.

Phương Thủy