The NGO believes that 20 years of economic progress in the country could be reversed due to climate change affecting low-lying coastlines and a burgeoning population.
"We want to partner with companies that also have environmental issues as a priority on their corporate social responsibility checklist," said Rad Kivette, director of development in Vietnam for EMW.
"Vietnam's government understands the potential implications of global climate change and is making significant initial efforts to determine how best to respond. However, this is also an issue that the private sector should embrace."
So far, the Ford Foundation has donated US$99,000 to develop a pilot programme to determine the effects of climate change on the country’s poorer communities. The results of the study would then be used to persuade private sector firms to join in on the foundation’s work.
EMW will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Vietnam in October and currently counts Boeing, AIG, the World Bank, Mast Industries, Akzo Nobel, among others as its supporters.
East Meets West rallies Vietnamese marketers
HO CHI MINH CITY - The East Meets West Foundation (EMW) is rallying marketers in Vietnam to help fight climate change.
