Van Lang University launches the contest "Climate Change: Today's Initiative for Future’s Environment."

On 21st December, 2022, the Faculty of Environment and the Special Training Program Department of Van Lang University in collaboration with enCity International Consulting Company and the US Consulate Ho Chi Minh City organized a workshop "Climate change and the role of young people" and launched the contest "Climate Change: Today's Initiative for Future’s Environment."

The program is led by experts working in the field of environment: Dr. Ho Phi Long - Deputy Director of enCity International Consulting Company, Ms. Pham Thi Lan Ngoc - expert of enCity International Consulting Company and Dr. Huynh Tan Loi - Head of PhD program, lecturer of Faculty of Environment - Van Lang University and teachers representing the Special Training Program.

Today, climate change is one of the top concerns, having a great impact on social life. The workshop is organized to create an open exchange space between students and experts, helping young people understand and pay more attention to one of the urgent global issues, thereby promoting ideas and initiatives to help the community adapt to environmental changes and minimize damage caused by natural disasters through the contest "Climate Change: Today's Initiative for Future’s Environment."

Climate change in recent years can be seen through 4 main indicators: global warming, ocean acidification, greenhouse gas emissions and natural disasters. According to a report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the average temperature in the world is already 1.11°C higher than in pre-industrial times, leading to many unpredictable consequences. According to CMEMS, between 1985 and 2020, the ocean absorbed about 23% of CO2, resulting in a drop in ocean pH (acidification) that threatened ecosystems, food security, tourism, and coastal landscapes. Greenhouse gases CO2, CH4 and N20 emissions from human activities are also gradually increasing, leading to global warming. It can be seen that in recent years, natural disasters appear with higher frequency, in many places and are somewhat more difficult to predict than before.

According to Dr. Huynh Tan Loi - Head of PhD program, lecturer of Faculty of Environment of Van Lang University, in order to respond to climate change, it is necessary to focus on 2 important factors: adaptation and mitigation; adapt to anticipate adverse impacts brought about by climate change, thereby taking actions to prevent and mitigate damage caused by natural disasters such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

At the workshop, Dr. Ho Phi Long - Deputy Director of enCity International Consulting Company also proposed a strategy to respond to urban flooding. According to him, it is necessary to change the mindset of "flood prevention" in the context of current climate change, balancing factors of protection, adaptation and resilience, combining concentrated investment and analysis to control flooding sustainably. Dr. Ho Phi Long affirmed that urban flood management is no longer a technical issue but needs to be expanded, studied and practiced interdisciplinarily, integrating economic, social, environmental and institutional issues.Climate change is no longer a matter of the government, expert organizations or an individual community. It's a common problem for everyone. The contest "Climate Change: Today's Initiative for Future’s Environment." is an activity to raise people's awareness of climate change by connecting young people with the community to seek multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary initiatives to limit emissions, mitigate disaster risks and increase adaptation to climate change in localities. Passing 2 rounds of face-to-face interviews and presenting ideas, participants have the opportunity to earn a prize worth VND 20 million. For more information, click HERE.

Over the years, Van Lang University has focused on raising awareness of environmental protection, responding to climate change through activities such as recycling classes, recycling days, workshops, seminars, international conferences and cooperation in implementing scientific research activities, meaningful community activities. Recently, a project to produce compost from waste contributes to the creation of compost that can be used in planting with good quality.

News: Minh Hoang 
Images: Dang Anh