The Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM) granted its affiliate An Giang University the authorization to establish and operate a Climate Change Institute (CCI) on the university campus on Tuesday.

Vu Hai Quan, president of VNUHCM, handed over the decision to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Van Thang, rector of An Giang University, at a ceremony held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on the same day.

An Giang University will be responsible for the development and operation of CCI on the basis of reorganizing its temporarily-closed Research Center for Rural Development.

The CCI is designed to carry out research on the climate system, natural resources - environment and sustainable development, agriculture and rural development; give science and technology consultancy; and transfer community development services.

In addition, the institute’s functions include organizing and managing postgraduate training activities to support human resource development in accordance with the master plan of An Giang University and participating in scientific appraisal in environmental studies, climate change, agriculture, and rural development.

The CCI establishment on the campus of An Giang University in the namesake province, which is located upstream the Mekong River in Vietnam, is expected to meet the needs of training, education, and contributions to community development in climate change.

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region, which covers an area of 40,577 square kilometers and is home to 21.49 million people, has been hit hard by climate change, intensifying natural disasters, drought, and saltwater intrusion.

The Southeast Asian country announced in April last year that it would be borrowing US$2 billion from the World Bank, Germany, and France to develop the Mekong Delta as well as respond to climate change consequences in the region.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!