Some developed countries are preparing to levy a carbon tax on manufactured goods and means of transport running on fossil fuels, said Tran Hong Ha, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

Ha said Vietnam should respond to this global low-carbon development trend.

In addition to the mechanism of selling and buying carbon credits as mentioned in the Kyoto Protocol, he said, the carbon tax on some industrial products and vehicles using gas, coal and oil is considered an effective measure to cope with the greenhouse effect.

Industrial manufacturers worldwide emit around one billion tons of carbon dioxide.

Ha said early in the second quarter of this year, his ministry would pass to the Government a fully-drafted national strategy for adapting to climate change.

After the Government gives approval, this strategy will be launched with focus on some important and urgent plans such as combating forest depression, protecting water sources in the Mekong Delta, the Red River and coastal residential areas where people have been wrestling climate change.

“By now, Vietnam has received some USD1.3 billion in financial assistance from other countries and organisations to help to carry out projects to adapt to climate change until 2012,” he said.

According to the ministry, Vietnam is among the five countries in the world most vulnerable to negative impacts of climate change such as floods, droughts and rising sea levels

(VFEJ, 24/2/2011)