VietNamNet Bridge - One of 2,000 researchers globally contributing to the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize-winning report on global warming, Dr Nguyen Huu Ninh warns that the clock is ticking if the world is to avert the devastating effects of climate change.

While conducting research at the University of Szeged in Hungary and at the Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Dr Nguyen Huu Ninh turned a major corner in his career in 1986 to become one of the first Vietnamese scientists to work on global climate change. An invitation by the US National Centre for Atmospheric Research in Colorado in the following year was historic.

Ninh created a non-governmental organisation in the early 1990s, a time when few people had heard about climate change, and devoted his life to raising awareness of the crucial importance of the issue in Viet Nam and across the world.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) invited Ninh to give comments on their second Assessment Report on Climate Change Report in 1995. Ninh and other international IPCC scientists shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former US Vice President Al Gore for their work on the climate change issue.

How did you contribute to the 4th IPCC Climate Change Report? What do you think was the significance of the report?

There were about 2,000 co-authors, including about 600 lead authors of the 3,000-page ICPC report, which was published in three volumes.

I joined the Working Group No 2 of 10 lead authors of the Asia chapter in the second volume: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.

Our group was responsible for drawing a picture of Asia in the global climate change context.

We wrote dozens of drafts because the report was sent to international scientists and governments throughout the world in order to get their feedback before publication.

The fourth report was of great significance in persuading all politicians on this issue. This is the first time that all of humankind acknowledged that it is we who are to blame for 90 per cent of climate change. The report put an end to the 30-year debate and marks an important turn in history, an era where we humans must look closely at the consequences of our behaviour.

This involves the realignment of all socio-political issues according to a new order. Everyone must bear responsibility because it’s a common issue that will decide the matter of the life or death of human civilisation.

That’s why it won the Nobel Prize.

I think 2,000 co-authors were too few for such a huge work. Behind them was the support of many other scientists. I myself contacted many Vietnamese scientists, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Resources and Environment and other authorities while producing the report.

Were you paid a stipend while working on the report? Are there any plans yet to do something with the prize money?

No, I didn’t get anything for the three years spent working. Neither did any of the other authors.

But none of us thought we were doing it for financial gain. We participated in the work because it was of great scientific value and great significance for humankind.

And at last we received the world’s respect for our effort.

The 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, worth US$1.5 million, will be divided in two, split between former US Vice President Al Gore and the IPCC scientists.

The IPCC will have a meeting this month to discuss the fate of our $750,000. I think the best way to use this amount is to invest in research projects on climate change or on helping people adapt to the new environment.

It is forecast that Viet Nam will be severely affected by climate change. In your opinion, what is the biggest threat?

I think the most dangerous effect is the one that we are facing now.

We may talk a lot about increasing sea level, but its effects will be seen in 10-12 years’ time and beyond.

The current problem is the worsening of natural disasters caused by climate change. Natural disasters have occured throughout history, but climate change is now pushing these natural phenomena to their extremes: the cold becomes extreme cold and the heat becomes extreme heat. And it has also raised the frequency of natural disasters.

The increasing trend of natural disasters going extreme has resulted in visible consequences. It could be seen clearly last year. Both the number and strength of storms hitting Viet Nam were higher compared to the previous years, and their aftermath were very huge.

And I think they will continue to worsen in the future.

What should ordinary people do about climate change?

I think everyone must have political determination and solidarity to deal with this shared problem. The responsibility belongs to all. Everyone must do their best to protect the environment, for themselves, for their family, for the whole society and for the entire human race.

For example, please remember to turn off all electric devices after using them, keep air conditioners set to reasonable temperatures, work to increase the role of public transportation, cycle or walk to work, build eco-houses and eco-offices, push for the development of biogas in rural areas, and protect wetlands and forests.

All those activities will help protect the environment.

That’s the moral thing. Each individual saves a little bit, and when combined together the small savings add up to a lot and bring huge benefits for the whole society.

Viet Nam is not a large green-house emissions country. We generate about 1 tonne of carbon dioxide per capita (totally 70-80 million tonnes a year). This is much smaller than many other countries, such as the US with 1,500 tonnes per capita a year. Thus, I can say that Viet Nam has to suffer from the consequences of global climate change.

But getting into a panic can solve nothing. We need to accept the reality and find ways to adapt ourselves and develop. Of course, we’ll lose more than gain. But we need to turn those challenges into opportunities.

The human is also an organism. And the first and most significant characteristic of organisms is adaptation.

Climate change has been occuring for millions of years. There have been periods where many species became extinct. Only those that could adapt survived. The time for adaptation in the past was obviously much longer than now. Previously, creatures had dozens of thousands of years to evolve and adapt. But now we have only hundreds or even dozens of years.

We have to accept it.

In case of fresh water shortage, we can make use of rainfalls by building rainfall tanks as mountainous people often do. It’s a very effective way to save water.

Look at the Netherlands. They keep going on even though they have been below sea level for a long time.

It’s time for all scientists to bring their expertise into full play. The roles of science and technology in almost all current issues are very important.

It’s time for enhancing investment in grey matter- our intellectual resources.

We need to invent new plant varieties that can endure higher temperatures and a more saline environment. We need to change our farming methods and research new low-carbon industries and nanotechnology.

(Source: VNS)