Workshop highlights importance of impact-based disaster forecasting
Impact-based forecasting and warning information plays a very important role, contributing to disaster damage reduction and socio-economic development, experts said at an international workshop in the northern province of Hoa Binh on March 22.
Hoa Binh (VNA) – Impact-based forecasting and warning information playsa very important role, contributing to disaster damage reduction andsocio-economic development, experts said at an international workshop in thenorthern province of Hoa Binh on March 22.
Deputy head of the Vietnam Meteorological and HydrologicalAdministration (VNMHA) Hoang Duc Cuong said that the workshop, jointly held bythe VNMHA and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) in response to the WorldMeteorological Day (March 23), will provide international experiences onforecasting and warning based on practical impacts in the world and Vietnam,contributing to forming processes and measures to effectively forecast disasterimpacts in Vietnam at present and in future.
At the workshop, the ADPC guided participants on how to buildan impact matrix of storms and floods. Participants also discussed the role ofdisaster forecasting and warning, and emphasised the importance of informationon impact-based forecasting in easing damage caused by natural disasters.
Senaka Basnayake, Director for the ADPC’s Climate Resilience Department, saidthat in order to increase urban resilience to climate extremes, it is necessaryto understand current and future risks, build capacity for emergencypreparedness, response, and management, and learn about sustainable riskmanagement for the future.
Senaka said that the “Urban Resilience to Climate Extremes in Southeast Asia”(URCE) project is being implemented by the centre in Vietnam’s My Tho city inthe Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang and Nam Dinh city in the northerncoastal province of the same name from November 2018 to December 2023.
It aims to improve the multi-hazard early warning system, knowledgeon risks caused by climate extremes (storms, floods, water level rise caused bystorms); better forecasts on disasters; and strengthen the effectiveness of preparedness and response measures by people and authorities in urban areas toclimate extremes and emergency situations./.
The Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration has applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) in hydrometeorology monitoring and forecasting, making typhoon and torrential rain prediction more accurate.
Strengthening marine forecasting capacity has always been one of the development priorities of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, stated Vice Director of the agency Hoang Duc Cuong at a conference on the work in Hanoi on November 15.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Delegates to the workshop (Photo: VNA) 
