Deputy Prime Minister Asang Laoly said yesterday climate change reduction plans should be integrated within each ministry and approaches shared in order to address the issue with unity and renewed vigour.

He was speaking at a National Strategy for Climate Change Committee (NSCCC) meeting on the drafting of the first strategy plan on climate change.

The meeting was briefed on climate change strategic documents by the Prime Minister's Office Minister and Head of Water Resources and Environment Administration, Ms Khempheng Pholsena.

Mr Asang said Laos was committed to reducing environmental impacts even as it hurries to graduate from the United Nations' list of least-developed countries by 2020.

“The Lao government always implements socio-economically sound policies which guarantee environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources,” he said.

Laos had been suffering from climate change since 1966, Mr Asang said.

Between 1966 and 2008 there were 29 floods, nine of which were severe, including the floods in August last year.

He said flooding usually occurred in the central and southern provinces of Laos . There were also eight droughts during this period, three of which were severe.

Mr Asang said average temperatures were rising every year and rainfall was less predictable, distorting longstanding seasonal patterns.

These changes affected the national economy in a number of areas including agriculture, the environment, forestry resources, water quality, biodiversity, health, living conditions and poverty.

All Lao people were now working together to address climate change, following the message from Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh on Environment Day last year.

A message from Mr Bouasone said members of the public and all organisations should do their utmost to protect the environment, natural resources, forestry, aquatic animals and air quality.

Mr Asang said the formulation of legal protection for the environment through more rigorous environmental impact assessments would help to combat climate change.

“This session is an important step forward in solving these problems in the future,” he said.

At the meeting NSCCC members recognised the importance of environmental impact assessments for Lao development plans and stated their determination to ensure such assessments had the requisite legal support and would be implemented effectively.