Vietnam shares difficulties in responding to rising sea levels

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, made the comments on October 18 during an Arria-formula meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on sea-level rises and the implications for international peace and security.

More than 70% of the people set to be hardest hit by sea level rises globally reside in Asia, Ambassador Quy said, adding that the country’s Mekong and Red River Deltas are among the areas which are most vulnerable to sea level rises.

Other delegates at the event also hailed Vietnamese initiative to organise the meeting, whilst sharing the view that sea level rises pose an existential threat both at present and in the future, with this issue resulting in the depletion of agricultural and aquatic resources.

Rising sea levels has also negatively impacted the livelihoods of millions of people and worsened conflicts, participants added.

Many suggested that attention should therefore be paid to mitigation and adaptation measures aimed at combatting climate change. They also agreed that legal consequences of sea level rises needs to be addressed within the framework of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Vietnamese diplomat went on to note that the Vietnamese initiative is to create a forum for all countries to raise their viewpoints, as well as their concerns over sea level rises, while creating higher consensus regarding the significance of UNSC discussions on this issue.

Sea level rises should be considered a challenge to international peace and security, therefore it must be addressed right now, he stressed. 

Ambassador Quy affirmed Vietnamese commitments to promoting the UNSC’s contributions to international efforts in coping with sea level rises.