Decision No. 158/2008/QD-TTg Approves the National Target Program on Responding to Climate Change

Pursuant to …;

Approves the national target programứng phó với biến đổi khí hậu

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 60/2007/NQ-CP dated December 3, 2007 of the Government;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (document No. 33/TTr-BTNMT dated July 31, 2008).

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. Approves the National Target Program on Responding to Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as the Program), with the main contents as follows:

I. GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND SCOPE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM

Clause 1. Views

- Responding to climate change shall be carried out based on the principle of sustainable development, ensuring system integrity, comprehensiveness, sectoral, inter-sectoral, regional, inter-regional, gender equality, poverty reduction, and hunger eradication.

- Activities responding to climate change shall be conducted with focus and priority; addressing both immediate urgent impacts and long-term potential impacts; investment in responding to climate change is a crucial factor ensuring sustainable development; responding today will reduce future losses.

- Responding to climate change is the responsibility of the entire political system, the whole society, all levels, sectors, organizations, and every citizen, and must be implemented with high consensus and determination, from local, regional, national to global levels.

- Tasks responding to climate change must be reflected in strategies, programs, plans, and development plans of sectors and localities, institutionalized through legal normative documents, and implemented in organizational practice.

- Implementing responses to climate change according to the principle of "Common but Differentiated Responsibilities" established in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Vietnam will effectively implement the climate change mitigation program when it receives adequate financial support and technology transfer from developed countries and other international funding sources.

2. Guiding Principles

- The Government uniformly formulates policies and directs the implementation of activities responding to climate change; the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is the permanent agency, coordinating with relevant agencies responsible for assisting the Government in directing the implementation of this field.

- Ensuring compliance with state policies and laws to protect sustainable national development, cultural values, and material wealth for the present and future.

- Enhancing the effectiveness of state management and increasing the responsibility of all organizations and individuals in responding to climate change. Gradually perfecting the institutional and organizational system from central to local levels, raising awareness, and disseminating experiences in responding to climate change.

- The Program shall be implemented in a coordinated manner, phased, and prioritized, being both urgent and long-term, proactive, timely, prompt, and effective, ensuring sustainable development of each region and sector.

- The State ensures necessary resources while mobilizing contributions from the international community and domestic sources for activities responding to climate change; developing and implementing measures to respond to climate change serving comprehensive exploitation, harmonizing with nature, and synchronizing with development.

- Ensuring the fulfillment of international commitments on responding to climate change.

3. Scope of Implementation of the Program

Chapter I is implemented nationwide in the following phases:

- Phase I (2009 – 2010): start-up phase.

- Phase II (2011 – 2015): implementation phase.

- Phase III (after 2015): development phase.

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

1. General Objective

The strategic objective of the Program is to assess the degree of impact of climate change on various sectors, industries, and localities at each stage, and to develop feasible action plans to effectively respond to climate change for both short-term and long-term periods, ensuring sustainable national development, taking advantage of opportunities to develop the economy towards low-carbon growth, and participating with the international community in efforts to mitigate climate change and protect the Earth's climate system.

2. Specific objectives

a) Assess the degree of climate change in Vietnam due to global climate change and the impact of climate change on various sectors, industries, and localities.

b) Identify solutions to respond to climate change.

c) Strengthen scientific and technological activities to establish a scientific basis for solutions to respond to climate change.

d) Consolidate and enhance organizational, institutional, and policy capacity to respond to climate change.

đ) Enhance awareness, responsibility for participation of the community, and develop human resources.

e) Strengthen international cooperation to seek international assistance and support in responding to climate change.

g) Integrate climate change issues into strategies, planning, and development plans for economic and social development, industry, and locality.

h) Develop and implement action plans of ministries, sectors, and localities to respond to climate change; implement projects, initially pilot projects.

III. TASKS AND SOLUTIONS

1. Assessing the Degree and Impact of Climate Change in Vietnam

The key task that needs to be carried out immediately is to assess climate trends; develop climate change scenarios, particularly sea level rise; and evaluate the impact of climate change on various sectors, industries, and localities.

a) Targets to be achieved by 2010

- Based on existing domestic and foreign studies, complete the development of climate change scenarios in Vietnam, particularly sea level rise, by early 2009, on which basis ministries, sectors, and localities will develop their own action plans.

- Complete the assessment of the degree, nature, and trend of changes in climatic factors and phenomena in Vietnam.

- By the end of 2010, complete the update of climate change scenarios in Vietnam, particularly sea level rise, for each period from 2010 to 2100. These scenarios must have solid scientific and practical foundations.

- Complete the development of a scientific basis, methodology, and guidelines for assessing the impact of climate change, particularly sea level rise, on various sectors, industries, and localities.

- Pilot the assessment of the impact of climate change, particularly sea level rise, on sensitive and vulnerable areas such as water resources, agriculture, health, livelihoods, delta regions, and coastal zones.

b) Targets to be achieved by 2015

- Continue to update climate change scenarios in Vietnam, particularly sea level rise.

- Complete the assessment of the impact of climate change, particularly sea level rise, on various sectors, industries, and localities.

2. Identifying Solutions to Respond to Climate Change

Based on the results of the impact assessment of climate change and vulnerability to climate change in various sectors, industries, and localities, develop and select solutions to respond to climate change.

a) Targets to be achieved by 2010

- Complete the development of a methodological basis and guidelines for identifying solutions to respond to climate change.

- Implement pilot projects on responding to climate change in sensitive and vulnerable sectors, industries, and localities affected by climate change and sea level rise.

b) Targets to be achieved by 2015

- Complete the development of solutions to respond to climate change in various sectors, industries, and localities.

- Begin implementing selected response solutions in various sectors, industries, and localities according to the action plan.

3. Developing a Science and Technology Program on Climate Change

Develop and implement a national science and technology program to provide a scientific basis for developing institutions, policies, and action plans to respond to climate change.

a) Targets to be achieved by 2010

- Complete the design and construction of a database framework on climate change.

- Develop a national science and technology program on climate change, identify scientific and technological tasks, and begin implementation.

b) Targets to be achieved by 2015

- Improve and update the climate change database.

- Effectively implement the national science and technology program on climate change at ministries, sectors, and localities.

- Update and effectively implement research on the nature, trends, scenarios, and impacts of climate change on various sectors, regions, and response solutions, contributing to enhancing the capacity to respond to climate change.

4. Enhancing Organizational, Institutional, and Policy Capacity on Climate Change

Review the current legal system and policies, assess the level of attention given to climate change in legal documents and policies of the State. Develop, supplement, and perfect the legal framework and mechanisms, policies to ensure legal grounds for implementing activities to respond to climate change.

a) Targets to be achieved by 2010

- Develop a framework of legal documents and mechanisms, policies to respond to climate change.

- Develop, issue, and implement a coordination mechanism between ministries, sectors, localities, and management bodies implementing the Program.

b) Targets to be achieved by 2015

- Issue and update legal documents and mechanisms, policies to respond to climate change.

- Identify priority mechanisms and policies for activities to respond to climate change.

- Review, supplement, and perfect the operational mechanisms and coordination of agencies responsible for climate change.

5. Enhancing awareness and developing human resources

Strengthening propaganda and education to enhance awareness and responsibility throughout society regarding climate change; intensifying efforts to train human resources, particularly high-level human resources.

a) Targets to be achieved by 2010

- Developing plans to enhance awareness and initiating implementation in sectors and localities sensitive and vulnerable to climate change.

- Initially implementing plans to enhance awareness within the education and training system; building and popularizing materials and means to serve enhancing awareness.

- Developing plans for human resource development and initiating implementation in sectors and localities sensitive and vulnerable to climate change.

- Over 10% of the community and over 65% of civil servants have basic knowledge about climate change and its impacts.

b) Targets to be achieved by 2015

- Gradually effectively implementing plans to enhance awareness about climate change from central to local levels.

- Completing, updating, and widely popularizing materials and means to serve enhancing awareness.

- Implementing plans to enhance awareness and develop human resources within the education and training systems at all levels.

- Over 80% of the community and 100% of civil servants have basic knowledge about climate change and its impacts.

6. Strengthening international cooperation.

Taking advantage and effectively utilizing international financial sources, including finance and technology transfer through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Participating in regional and global activities on climate change.

a) Targets to be achieved by 2010

- Establishing mechanisms for cooperation between Vietnam and international donors to implement the Program's contents.

- Setting up bilateral and multilateral cooperation relations on climate change response between Vietnam and some countries and international organizations.

- Actively contributing to the process of building international agreements and documents on climate change.

- Supplementing and perfecting the legal framework and mechanisms, policies to encourage investment in Clean Development Mechanism projects and climate change response projects, friendly climate technology transfers, thereby creating conditions for foreign partners to invest in these projects in Vietnam.

b) Targets to be achieved by 2015

- Perfecting and effectively implementing mechanisms for cooperation between Vietnam and international donors to implement the Program's contents.

- Continuing to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation relations on climate change response between Vietnam and countries and international organizations.

- Enhancing Vietnam's role in the region and internationally in cooperation and negotiations on climate change.

7. Integrating climate change issues into strategies, programs, planning, and economic and social development plans at national, sectoral, and local levels.

Considering the potential impact of climate change and adaptation measures in the formulation, adjustment, and supplementation of strategies, programs, planning, and economic and social development plans at national, sectoral, and local levels (hereinafter referred to as development plans).

a) Targets to be achieved by 2010

- Completing the assessment of the impact of climate change and sea level rise on development plans.

- Completing the compilation and classification of adaptation measures for each development plan.

- Building and promulgating legal documents and guidelines for integrating climate change issues into development plans; implementing integration according to the issued regulations.

b) Targets to be achieved by 2015

- Implementing the integration of climate change issues into development plans for the period 2010-2020.

- Evaluating the results of integration into development plans for the period 2010-2015.

- Widely and effectively implementing the integration of climate change issues into development plans for subsequent periods.

8. Developing action plans of ministries, sectors, and localities to respond to climate change.

Ministries, sectors, and localities develop their own action plans to respond to climate change. The development of action plans is carried out step-by-step, ensuring quality, feasibility, and effectiveness.

a) Targets to be achieved by 2010

- Ministries, sectors, and localities complete the development of action plans to respond to climate change.

- Ministries, sectors, and localities managing sensitive and vulnerable areas begin implementing action plans.

b) Targets to be achieved by 2015

Ministries, sectors, and localities initiate the implementation of action plans to respond to climate change.

9. Developing and implementing Program projects.

In the 2009-2010 period, organizing the development and implementation of priority projects to respond to climate change in sensitive and vulnerable fields and localities, aiming to draw lessons to improve action plans for comprehensive implementation in the 2011-2015 period.

The list of projects and estimated funding for project implementation is specified in the Appendix attached to this Decision.

IV. FINANCIAL MECHANISMS AND RESOURCES RAISING FOR INVESTMENT

1. Financial mechanisms

- The State ensures necessary resources while mobilizing contributions from the international and domestic communities; the State creates a legal basis to encourage the participation of various economic and social components, both domestic and foreign organizations in investing in climate change response.

- Coordinating with other programs and projects to attract additional investment capital.

- Projects and investment activities under the Program will be considered for tax exemptions and reductions according to legal provisions.

2. Budget for the Program

The budget for activities implementing the Program during the 2009-2015 period (excluding the budget for implementing action plans of ministries, sectors, and localities) is estimated at approximately 1.965 trillion VND, allocated as follows:

- Foreign capital: 50%.

- Domestic capital: 50%, including:

+ Central budget: about 30%.

+ Local budget: about 10%.

+ Private economic sector and other sources: about 10%.

The Program's budget for periods after 2015 will be determined together with specific goals for each period.

3. Methods for preparing the Program's capital plan.

The procedure for preparing the annual budget plan to implement the Program, allocating and detailing the implementation plan, managing, settling accounts, and finalizing the actual capital expenditure shall be carried out in accordance with the current regulations on managing and implementing national target programs.

Article 2. Implementation

1. Establishing the National Steering Committee, the Program Management Board, and the Program Office

a) The National Steering Committee for the National Target Program on Responding to Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as the National Steering Committee) includes: the Prime Minister as Chair; the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment as Vice Chair in charge of day-to-day operations; the Ministers of Planning and Investment and Finance as Vice Chairs; the members include the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs.

b) The Program Management Board (hereinafter referred to as the Management Board) includes: the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment as Chair; two Deputy Chairs being the Vice Ministers of Planning and Investment and Finance; the members include representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Foreign Affairs, Industry and Trade, Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Transport, Construction, Information and Communications, Education and Training, Home Affairs, Health, Science and Technology, Defense, Public Security.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall submit to the Prime Minister for approval the functions, tasks, and operational regulations of the National Steering Committee and the Program Management Board.

c) The Program Office serves as an assisting body to the Management Board to coordinate the activities of the Program, located at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall stipulate the Operational Regulations of the Program Office.

2. Responsibilities of Ministries, sectors, localities, and related agencies.

a) Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall perform its state management functions assigned and the tasks entrusted, assist the Management Board in coordinating with ministries, sectors, and localities in managing and implementing the Program, focusing on the following contents:

- Taking the lead and coordinating with ministries and sectors to develop management mechanisms, policies, guidance for implementing the Program, submitting to the Government for issuance or issuing according to the assigned functions and tasks.

- Calculating the necessary funds based on the Program implementation plan, reporting to the Management Board for consolidation and submission of the annual capital plan to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance in accordance with the Law on State Budget.

- Guiding and supporting ministries, sectors, and localities in building and implementing action plans to respond to climate change.

- Organizing inspections, audits, and periodic reviews and evaluations of the Program's implementation.

- Coordinating general information, education, and communication activities related to climate change.

- Periodically compiling and reporting to the Prime Minister on the results of the Program's implementation, proposing solutions for issues arising beyond their authority.

- Taking the lead and coordinating with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to develop monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the Program's implementation.

- Guiding, supervising, and evaluating the Program's implementation.

- Building and implementing the Ministry's action plan to respond to climate change and carrying out assigned projects.

b) Ministry of Planning and Investment:

- Taking the lead and coordinating with ministries, sectors, and localities to build and guide the implementation of integrated climate change standards into strategies, programs, planning, and socio-economic development plans.

- Cooperating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to develop monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the Program's implementation.

- Building and implementing the Ministry's action plan to respond to climate change.

c) Ministries, equivalent ministries, and government agencies;

Shall be responsible for building and implementing the action plan to respond to climate change for their respective ministries and sectors; performing assigned tasks within the Program; actively participating in joint activities as directed by the National Steering Committee.

d) People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities:

- Building and implementing the local action plan to respond to climate change.

- Implementing approved activities related to the Program.

- Ensuring the correct and effective use of Program funds.

- Actively mobilizing additional resources and integrating relevant activities from other programs in the locality to achieve Program goals.

- Ensuring compliance with the monitoring and evaluation principles stipulated in the Program.

- Regularly reporting on the progress of achieving the Program's objectives and tasks in the province or city according to current regulations.

đ) Social organizations, non-governmental organizations, and enterprises:

Encouraging political-social organizations, social-professional organizations, mass organizations, non-governmental organizations, and enterprises to actively participate in climate change response activities, particularly in the fields of information, education, and communication; supporting and mobilizing community participation, disseminating effective climate change response models; implementing or participating in projects and plans of ministries, sectors, and localities.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluating the results of implementing the Program's objectives will be conducted at the national, sectoral, field, and local levels:

- At the district level:

+ The District Department of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for collecting, consolidating, managing, and storing information, preparing periodic reports.

+ The District People's Committee regularly sends consolidated reports to the provincial or centrally governed city Program's permanent office.

- At the provincial level:

+ The Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment acts as the Program's permanent office, responsible for managing and storing relevant data and information; inspecting and guiding districts to submit reports on time.

+ The Provincial People's Committee compiles information and submits regular reports to the Management Board.

- At the central level:

+ Ministries and sectors are responsible for periodically reporting to the Management Board.

The Director Board is responsible for managing and retaining information reported by provinces, centrally governed cities, Ministries, and sectors; inspecting and guiding Ministries, sectors, provinces, and centrally governed cities to submit reports on schedule; verifying the data sources and reliability of the data; the Director Board prepares periodic reports to be submitted to the National Steering Committee and presented to the Prime Minister.

Article 3. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 4. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of governmental agencies, political-social organizations, and Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under central governance are responsible for implementing this Decision./.