Developing a sustainable city will require the implementation of many measures, including the development

of eco-parks, eco-resorts and eco-townships, according to a Construction Ministry official.

Speaking at the seminar held yesterday in HCM City, Ngo Trung Hai, head of the Ministry’s Institute for Urban and Rural Zoning, said the city must ensure the logical use of natural resources and minimise the negative impact on the environment.

All communities must participate in the effort, he said, adding that the city should maintain and preserve its historic cultural values as well.

Hai said damaged natural areas must be protected and restored, and nurseries and small botanical gardens should be developed throughout the city.

Huynh Tan Phong, deputy director of the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, said investing in infrastructure and building a good transport system was required to build a sustainable city.

Phong said Viet Nam had been developing its transport system step by step. In HCM City, the Phu My Bridge linking districts 2, 7 and the Thu Thiem tunnel had improved traffic flow.

Phong also called for investment in infrastructure projects

for Thu Thiem New Urban Area, which will have a total area of 900ha and 200,000 residents and the 6,000ha Cu Chi Northwest New Township.

The seminar was organ-ised by the Ministry of Construction in collaboration

with Messe Muenchen International Asia Pte Ltd.

Meanwhile, talks on climate change and responses in Viet Nam were organised by the United Nations in Ha Noi yesterday.

“Climate change requires the scaling up of good development practices and ambitions,” said UNDP Senior Advisor Koos Neefjes.

According to the UN report, “Viet Nam and climate change: A report on policies for sustainable human development”, the potential effects include increased temperature that will put pressure on resources and communities.

Spatial planning

Neefijes highlighted the importance of spatial planning in rural and urban centres and an integrated master plan for climate change adaptation and low-carbon development.

Truong Manh Tien, director of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Poverty Environment Project, said: “Different livelihoods in the same region can experience contrasting effects of climatic shock and stress. Consequently, there is a need to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to adaptation, and design and implement flexible strategies.”

According to Nguyen Thanh Ha from OXFAM Hong Kong, failing to address climate change and social development is likely to increase social and economic inequality between men and women and among other sectors of society. Therefore, it was important to turn climate change actions into opportunities for the empowerment of women and the enhancement of gender equality.

Climate change action could become an opportunity to achieve sustainable human development goals, said Koo Neefijes.