(VNF) - An EU Climate Diplomacy Fair took place at Ly Thai To square, Hoan Kiem lake on October 14^th to raise public awareness on the urgent need of addressing climate change.

The exhibition, the first of its kind, is organised by the European Union Delegation to Vietnam (EUD) and the German Embassy, showcasing models of clean technologies and initiatives to promote sustainable clean energy with the full support of the Hanoi People’s Committee and the participation of 10 EU countries’ embassies and EU-funded projects.

Stimulating the curiosity of children with simple and interesting scientific experiments and games.

With the Paris Agreement, the world decided to take responsibility for its present and its future, by committing to preserving the very source of life: our planet and its environment. The climate change deal is an unprecedented multilateral partnership between nearly 200 countries, supported by companies and communities across the world, to address a problem facing all of us.

Being challenged by climate change, many groups and organisations in Vietnam are working on related-environment issues such as enviromental education, natural resources, among others, in order to raise public's awareness of and tackle these complicated problems.

The Fair is a social event which aims at helping people learn more about what the European Union is doing to address climate change in Vietnam, and get to know about the many local organisations which are also committed to mitigation and/or adaptation.

The event targeted young generations and families with the hope that they will adapt their inpidial behaviour to contribute to a more sustainable development.

At the exhibition, participants enjoyed demonstrations of what can be done at inpidual level including environmental education activities, such as how to use clean cook stoves to tackle kitchen pollution; how to make an Aquaponics Aquaculture System, a simple, inexpensive way to provide clean food at home; stimulating the curiosity of children with simple and interesting scientific experiments; experiencing creative energy saving models designed by youth groups, etc.

Through a range of activities from knowledge sharing, clean energy demonstration, games, contests, videos, photo exhibitions, publications and miniquiz, visitors got to learn more about solutions to address climate change in Vietnam.

Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee, Nguyen Duc Chung delivers his opening speech.

Speaking at the opening address, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, Nguyen Duc Chung lauded the organisation of Climate Diplomacy Fair of EUD to Vietnam.

“This is an event of great importance, not only supporting the EU Climate Diplomacy Week 2017, but also contributing to raising awareness of Hanoians on climate change, with an orientation towards a green lifestyle,” he said.

According to Chung, in an effort to implement international commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Vietnamese Government has assigned line-ministries, localities to build concrete plans to implement tasks as specified under the Decision No.2053/QD-TTg of 28/10/2016 of the Prime Minister on adoption of implementation plan for the Paris Agreement, and at the same time, to proactively mainstream climate-change-response-related issues into national investment and socio-ecomomic development plans.

He also affirmed that Hanoi city authourity, at local level, always considers environmental protection and proactive response to climate change a critical strategy for sustainable development. Over the years, Hanoi has focused on repairing, upgrading, building new systems of dyke, water resource to prevent flooding and to ensure the quality of urban water drainage, waste treatment factories and urban tree planting.

The Chairman also stressed the importance of the enhancement of public awareness in responding to climate change, adding that the EU Climate Diplomacy Fair will be a good opportunity for the authority, people, experts and businesses to further study and discuss on issues related to climate and environment, thus having greater contribution to the process of buiding a “Green, Civillised and Modern” Capital city.

Through activities like this, the relationship between Hanoi and the EU Delegation to Vietnam will be further strengthened, developed and more achievements will be gained, said Chairman Chung.

Ambassador – Head of EU delegation, Bruno Angelet at the opening ceremony.

Ambassador – Head of EU delegation, Bruno Angelet, for his part, highlighted that fighting climate change is a priority in EU’s partnership with Vietnam which focused mainly in energy sector – key for economic growth, but also one of the biggest emitter of green house gases.

“It’s not only the Governments’ job to fight climate change. Businesses, cities, education institutions and civil society, you and I, all of us share the same responsibility,” he said.

The Ambassador expresses his gratitude to the Hanoi People's Committee, the German Embassy and all participating organisations for successfully organising this fair. At the same time, he expressed his wish that the EU Climate Diplomacy will become an annual event, as well as cooperation in this field with the city will be expanded and developed./.

A creative energy saving model, designed by youth group, is introduced to delegates.

Many practical activities for children at the fair.

Minh Phuong