Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam Ann Marie Yastishock on January 28 affirmed that the organization is always willing to help Vietnam fulfill its commitments made at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

“USAID applauds the commitments made by Vietnam’s Prime Minister at COP26, and we are ready to support Vietnam to reach these important goals,” Yastishock said at a signing ceremony on addressing the complex challenges of climate change and environmental pollution through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU was signed by USAID’s Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock and Vice Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) Le Cong Thanh in Hanoi on January 28.

USAID Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock (left) and Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh at the signing ceremony. Photo: Tran Van

“This MoU will help facilitate the effective collaboration between USAID and MONRE on climate change and environmental pollution and take us one step closer to bringing greater environmental awareness and change for Vietnam’s citizens and economy,” Yastishock said.

“The recent COP26 meetings in Glasgow aimed to accelerate humanity’s cooperation on climate change and underscored the importance of collective action to preserve and protect our environment and planet,” she added.

With its long and densely populated coast, Vietnam has been ranked by the World Bank as among the top five countries likely to be most affected by climate change. A high proportion of the country’s population and economic assets are located in coastal lowlands and deltas, which are subject to frequent typhoons, floods, droughts, and landslides.

In addition, Vietnam faces a series of environmental pollution challenges largely spurred by agriculture, transportation, and industry.

USAID’s collaboration with MONRE will focus on air quality management; integrated water resource management and water security; conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; ocean plastic, solid waste management, and recycling; and reduction of emissions responsible for climate change.

Over the past five years, the USAID has been working closely with Vietnam to foster collective action by local actors, including the Vietnamese Government, private sector, social organizations, and citizens, to raise awareness of the causes and effects of environmental pollution challenges, and to increase knowledge of effective strategies for reducing the environmental pollution.

The USAID believes that solving complex environmental issues is a long-term process that requires strong collaboration and joint action from the Vietnamese Government entities, citizens, the private sector, and local organizations which all have common concerns and share mutual benefits of addressing specific environmental pollution issues.

By empowering local actors to take the lead in identifying and addressing environmental challenges, USAID advances locally-led and -sustained development and contributes to Vietnam's ownership of its prosperity, quality of life and sustainable, green economic growth.