On September 19th, the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) coordinated with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the city of Can Tho to organize a seminar to launch the “We Love Cities” campaign towards the goal of a green city and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The seminar had the presence of Mr. Duong Tan Hien, Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho city; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Thang, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change; Mr. Vu Quoc Anh, WWF - Vietnam project manager…

Addressing the event, Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, head of the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, highly appreciated Can Tho’s active response to climate change, particularly its issuance of many policies on cutting greenhouse emissions and promoting energy efficiency. He said that climate change has been completely changing global social life, mainly due to the excessive increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Mr. Duong Tan Hien, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city, said that Can Tho always considers climate change response and environmental protection a key task of its entire political system. Through this seminar, Can Tho city called for support and cooperation from governments, localities, communities, businesses, and organizations in Vietnam and overseas in overcoming climate change-induced challenges toward forming a carbon-neutral economy and helping Vietnam implement outcomes of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Standing Vice Chairman Duong Tan Hien wished Can Tho would achieve its goal of becoming a green city, developing sustainably, and becoming more prosperous.

The One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) was started in 2011 to encourage cities to build commitments and targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the implementation of global efforts under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. To implement activities to support cities participating in OPCC for the period 2021 - 2022, WWF Vietnam initiated a Program to call for the cooperation of cities with the goal of building cities where people can live and develop in harmony with nature.

In early June 2022, Can Tho city excellently entered the final round of OPCC and was selected to deploy the “We love cities” campaign.

The global campaign, running from September 19th to October 31st, aims to create a forum for cities pursuing sustainable development. Can Tho city is the only representative of Vietnam among the 280 participating cities worldwide.