标签： Asia

Vietnam is grappling with a catastrophic flood crisis as relentless rainfall since late October has triggered severe flooding and landslides across the south-central region. The death toll has climbed to 90, with 12 individuals still missing, according to the country’s environment ministry. Popular tourist destinations, including Nha Trang and Da Lat, have been particularly hard-hit, with entire neighborhoods submerged and critical infrastructure destroyed. In the mountainous province of Dak Lak, tens of thousands of homes were inundated, and over 60 fatalities were recorded since November 16. Farmer Mach Van Si, 61, recounted being stranded on his rooftop for two nights, describing the devastation as complete. ‘Our neighborhood was completely destroyed. Nothing was left. Everything was covered in mud,’ he told AFP. The floods have also caused extensive agricultural damage, with over 80,000 hectares of crops ruined and more than 3.2 million livestock or poultry lost. Economic losses are estimated at $343 million across five provinces. Authorities have mobilized helicopters to deliver aid to isolated communities, while tens of thousands of personnel are distributing essential supplies. Vietnam, already prone to natural disasters, has seen 279 deaths or disappearances and over $2 billion in damages this year alone. Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such events to human-driven climate change.

China has lauded the Global Mutirao Decision, a landmark agreement reached at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil, as a testament to global solidarity in addressing climate change. The agreement, described as ‘hard-won,’ was finalized on November 22, 2025, after intense negotiations that extended the conference by an additional day. Li Gao, head of the Chinese delegation and vice-minister of China’s ecology and environment, emphasized the significance of the decision, which encompasses climate mitigation, adaptation, finance, and international cooperation. The term ‘Mutirao,’ borrowed from Brazilian Portuguese, symbolizes collective action, reflecting the spirit of the agreement. Li highlighted the challenges posed by rising unilateralism, protectionism, and the United States’ withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement, underscoring the difficulty of reaching consensus. The Global Mutirao Decision reaffirms that climate measures should not serve as tools for arbitrary trade restrictions, a principle China has long advocated. Additionally, China, alongside other Global South nations, secured increased support from developed countries for climate adaptation funding. The conference also adopted a call to triple adaptation finance by 2035, albeit with a timeline longer than developing nations had hoped. Li noted that China’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), announced in September 2025, aim to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 7-10% from peak levels by 2035, with a commitment to ‘striving to do better.’ This phrase, which became a rallying cry at COP30, was incorporated into the conference’s key political document as a shared global objective. The timing of COP30, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, was particularly significant, setting the stage for the next decade of climate action. Li described the outcome as a milestone in the global multilateral climate process, signaling the irreversible shift toward green and low-carbon development, the resilience of multilateralism, and the necessity of international cooperation.

Central Vietnam is reeling from a devastating natural disaster as heavy rains earlier this week have led to catastrophic floods and landslides, claiming the lives of at least 90 people, according to state media reports on Sunday. The disaster prevention agency highlighted the widespread destruction caused by the deluges, which have compounded the region’s woes after it was recently battered by record-breaking floods and the powerful Typhoon Kalmaegi. The relentless rains triggered multiple landslides, particularly in the Central Highlands, submerging railway lines and roads and leaving thousands stranded. Vietnam, one of the world’s most flood-prone nations, faces heightened risks with nearly half its population residing in high-risk areas. Scientists attribute the increasing intensity and frequency of such disasters to a warming climate, which is exacerbating storms and rainfall across Southeast Asia, making floods and landslides more destructive.