The statement was made by Truong Duc Tri, deputy head of the Department of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, at Vietnam's third national workshop on climate change resilience held in Hanoi on October 18.

The workshop, which was hosted by Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network of 10 cities in India, Indonesia and Vietnam, discussed plans and activities taken in response to climate change in cities, and the lessons learnt.

Tri said the changes in awareness could be clearly seen at management level, including with State leaders and officials.

However, he pointed out, that although people could become more interested in the topic, it did not mean they gained better knowledge on the issue, adding that many people falsely thought of climate change as the reason for all weather variables.

He said the Government is now looking to boost communications regarding climate change in coastal areas and at schools.

Concerning the implementation of the National Target Programme to Respond to Climate Change, which is launched in 2010, 10 localities have so far drafted action plans to tackle climate change effects, Tri said.

He added that ministers, departments and localities have submitted more than 600 planned projects to build climate change resilience to the Government, with a total fund requested of US$10 billion.