Mr. Lê Công Thành, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment
Ms. Emilie Carrier, Commercial Counsellor
Excellencies, distinguished guests, colleagues and friends,

Let me begin by thanking the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Government of Viet Nam for convening this timely conference, and for our enduring partnership in building climate-resilience across the country. I also wish to recognize Canada, a vital bilateral partner in this effort.

Viet Nam stands on the frontlines of climate change. From devastating typhoons, flooding and landslides in the North and Central regions, to drought and saltwater intrusion across the Mekong Delta, climate impacts are no longer projections for tomorrow. They are of course realities of today, reshaping ecosystems, livelihoods, and futures.

We all remember Typhoon Yagi — among the most powerful storms to hit Viet Nam in decades. It left behind immense human and economic loss. 2026 has so far continued this pattern of volatility, with record-breaking heatwaves and as Vice Minister Thành has noted a projected shift toward El Niño conditions later this year. The truth is climate extremes are the new normal, and our systems must adapt accordingly.

This is why early warning systems matter. The UN’s global initiative, Early Warnings for All, launched in 2022aims to ensure every person on Earth is protected by life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027.

This means it’s not enough for hydromet services to be accurate. They must also be local. In Viet Nam forecasts and warnings need to be tailored to the realities of mountain communities, coastal zones, the Mekong Delta, and the Central Highlands, enabling action before disaster strikes.

UNDP is proud to stand alongside the Government of Viet Nam in this effort — we’ve installed 44 automatic hydromet stations in 9 vulnerable coastal provinces with generous funding from Canada and the Green Climate Fund. We’ve strengthened community-based disaster risk management. And we’ve worked with the Ministry on mainstreaming gender into the National Adaptation Plan.

But data alone doesn’t save lives. The most advanced forecasting model is only as powerful as its last mile. Through our work with smallholder farmers in the Central Highlands and coastal communities, we have learned that the critical gap is communication — turning complex meteorological data into simple, localized, gender-responsive messages that people can understand and act on in real time.

Nature itself is part of the solution. Through our Viet Nam Climate-Smart Coastal Communities project funded by Canada, we are continuing to support the plantation and restoration of mangrove forests. These vital ‘green shields’ do more than buffer storms; they sustain livelihoods, regulate microclimates, and protect agriculture and infrastructure from the compounding pressures ahead.

To be effective, resilience must also be inclusive. Poor, rural, and ethnic minority communities — women in particular — bear the heaviest burden of water scarcity and crop failure. That is why women must have a voice at the table in water management, cropping decisions, and emergency planning.

The project reflects this commitment, ensuring women have equitable access to climate services, decision-making roles, and resources.

I hope today’s conference will focus on what it takes to make our systems work better together – across institutions, across sectors, and all the way to the communities that rely on timely information.  If we get that right, climate data can help save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen resilience across Viet Nam.  

Thank you! Xin cảm ơn!