Environment

Typhoon Kalmaegi had directly affected the Tonkin Gulf and Vietnam's northern coastal provinces by 7:00pm on September 16, bringing heavy rain and whirlwinds, according to the Central Meteorology Hydrology Forecast Centre.

Tropical storm Kalmaegi, packing winds of up to 133 km per hour, is expected to bring heavy rains of 100 to 300mm in the northern region tonight.

Large swaths of forestland in the central highlands have been allocated to enterprises for management, but recently a number wrongdoings and violations have come to light.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is giving top priority to afforestation and reforestation projects in line with Vietnam's Support Programme to Respond to Climate Change.

Typhoon Kalmaegi entered the East Sea in the early morning of September 15, packing winds of 118-133km per hour, reported the Central Meteorology Hydrology Forecast Centre.

The 2014 'Green Action Day' campaign, aiming to raise awareness of using energy efficiently, was launched at Cultural Friendship Palace in Hai Phong city on September 12.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has urged HCM City to reduce the use of plastic bags to protect the environment.

Denmark is willing to share its experiences in climate change adaptation with the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, a representative of the Danish Embassy said.

Asia-Pacific scientists are gathering in Hanoi to seek ways to further advance development of the Asia-Pacific Mercury Monitoring Network and facilitate cooperation among key monitoring stakeholders in the region.

Local authorities in Thanh Hoa Province have just released a rare sea turtle caught by fishermen back into its natural environment.

Participants discussed ways to integrate climate change response and disaster risk reduction into socio-economic development at a two-day workshop that wrapped up on Friday in the Mekong Delta's Tien Giang Province.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has given his stamp of approval for an unprecedented renewable energy project utilising wind power, with funds mainly provided by the German Government.

Rising sea levels over the last decade caused the disappearance of many beautiful beaches and protected forests in the central province of Quang Nam and are now encroaching on coastal residential areas in Nui Thanh district and Hoi An City.

Renewable green energy will be created from organic waste discharged in industrial-agricultural activities in the Mekong Delta region through a new project funded by the Japanese government.

People living in apartment buildings of the capital's new urban areas are expressing concern over poor-quality tap water.

A rescue and conservation centre was opened in Hoang Lien National Park in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on August 28.

The World Bank (WB) has provided 44 billion VND (2.1 million USD) for the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap to improve its medical waste treatment.

The ban followed a request last month by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai who is concerned about environmental pollution of the surroundings, including water supplies and good farm land.

The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta should make efforts to control floods that are unseasonably early or too powerful to minimise damage and take advantage of the phenomenon for economic development, experts have said.