This book describes the iterative steps that were successfully undertaken to develop adaptation measures to climate change in two Vietnamese provinces. The methodology used to develop the scientific basis and the societal agreement of the need to adapt to climate change is applicable also to other regions in Vietnam, Asia and worldwide. The uncertainties of climate change models make it difficult to justify investments to finance protection from uncertain impacts. Setting out with the projected climate change impacts in Vietnam, which is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, the book describes a methodological approach to assess and evaluate local vulnerabilities of natural resources to climate change and socio-economic impacts, engaging local stakeholders in the development of locally acceptable and economically feasible adaptation measures. The methodological approach to understand the vulnerabilities and to develop climate change adaptation measures was scenario workshops that supported the communication between scientists and stakeholders. The development of climate change adaptation strategies is nearly state-of-the-art in many countries, but often there is still a large step towards implementing climate change adaptation measures on the local level. The challenge in the development of adaptation measures lies in their acceptability by local stakeholders and decision makers. Climate change adaptation measures also usually demand investments. To understand potential future risks the communication methodology was to first get a good understanding of the natural resources (mainly surface and groundwater) and their potential vulnerabilities (current and future). This was followed by developing a common understanding of current risk patterns, as well as underlying vulnerabilities and hazards. Socio-economic developments have an equally strong, and in the short term mostly even stronger, impact on the living environment and natural resources as long-term climate change impacts. The scenario workshops developed a holistic approach on current and potential future risk patterns, with a special focus on surface and groundwater quantities and qualities, natural hazards and sea level rise. Land-use planning was identified as playing a decisive role in minimizing current and future risks. Finally, first adaptation measures for two Vietnamese provinces were developed and shall be implemented over the next years. The methodology that led to these adaptation measures shall be applied in other Vietnamese provinces.

This book describes the iterative steps that were successfully undertaken to develop adaptation measures to climate change in two Vietnamese provinces. The methodology used to develop the scientific basis and the societal agreement of the need to adapt to climate change is applicable also to other regions in Vietnam, Asia and worldwide. The uncertainties of climate change models make it difficult to justify investments to finance protection from uncertain impacts. Setting out with the projected climate change impacts in Vietnam, which is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, the book describes a methodological approach to assess and evaluate local vulnerabilities of natural resources to climate change and socio-economic impacts, engaging local stakeholders in the development of locally acceptable and economically feasible adaptation measures. The methodological approach to understand the vulnerabilities and to develop climate change adaptation measures was scenario workshops that supported the communication between scientists and stakeholders. The development of climate change adaptation strategies is nearly state-of-the-art in many countries, but often there is still a large step towards implementing climate change adaptation measures on the local level. The challenge in the development of adaptation measures lies in their acceptability by local stakeholders and decision makers. Climate change adaptation measures also usually demand investments. To understand potential future risks the communication methodology was to first get a good understanding of the natural resources (mainly surface and groundwater) and their potential vulnerabilities (current and future). This was followed by developing a common understanding of current risk patterns, as well as underlying vulnerabilities and hazards. Socio-economic developments have an equally strong, and in the short term mostly even stronger, impact on the living environment and natural resources as long-term climate change impacts. The scenario workshops developed a holistic approach on current and potential future risk patterns, with a special focus on surface and groundwater quantities and qualities, natural hazards and sea level rise. Land-use planning was identified as playing a decisive role in minimizing current and future risks. Finally, first adaptation measures for two Vietnamese provinces were developed and shall be implemented over the next years. The methodology that led to these adaptation measures shall be applied in other Vietnamese provinces.

This book describes the iterative steps that were successfully undertaken to develop adaptation measures to climate change in two Vietnamese provinces. The methodology used to develop the scientific basis and the societal agreement of the need to adapt to climate change is applicable also to other regions in Vietnam, Asia and worldwide. The uncertainties of climate change models make it difficult to justify investments to finance protection from uncertain impacts. Setting out with the projected climate change impacts in Vietnam, which is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, the book describes a methodological approach to assess and evaluate local vulnerabilities of natural resources to climate change and socio-economic impacts, engaging local stakeholders in the development of locally acceptable and economically feasible adaptation measures. The methodological approach to understand the vulnerabilities and to develop climate change adaptation measures was scenario workshops that supported the communication between scientists and stakeholders. The development of climate change adaptation strategies is nearly state-of-the-art in many countries, but often there is still a large step towards implementing climate change adaptation measures on the local level. The challenge in the development of adaptation measures lies in their acceptability by local stakeholders and decision makers. Climate change adaptation measures also usually demand investments. To understand potential future risks the communication methodology was to first get a good understanding of the natural resources (mainly surface and groundwater) and their potential vulnerabilities (current and future). This was followed by developing a common understanding of current risk patterns, as well as underlying vulnerabilities and hazards. Socio-economic developments have an equally strong, and in the short term mostly even stronger, impact on the living environment and natural resources as long-term climate change impacts. The scenario workshops developed a holistic approach on current and potential future risk patterns, with a special focus on surface and groundwater quantities and qualities, natural hazards and sea level rise. Land-use planning was identified as playing a decisive role in minimizing current and future risks. Finally, first adaptation measures for two Vietnamese provinces were developed and shall be implemented over the next years. The methodology that led to these adaptation measures shall be applied in other Vietnamese provinces.

Coastal Disasters and Climate Change in Vietnam is the first book to focus specifically on natural hazards and climate change in Vietnam. The book examines threats such as tropical cyclones, sea-level rise, flooding, erosion, and salinity intrusion, and their respective effects on coastal structures and environments. It also looks at crucial management and mitigation efforts, including breakwater design, irrigation systems, coastal dunes and dikes, and more. The challenges faced by this country in the future will have important regional and global repercussions; areas such as the Mekong Delta produce a significant proportion of the world’s rice, and coastal impacts on this region will have far-reaching economic and public health effects. This book is an important source of information for government and local policy makers, environmental and climate scientists, and engineers. Broad coverage of climate challenges specific to the region, including sea-level rise, storms, erosion, and more Assessments of impact on, and effects of, economic development and port construction Examination of public policy responses to climate change

There is now strong evidence that the earth's climate is changing rapidly, due mainly to human activities. Increasing temperatures, sea-level rises, changes in precipitation patterns and extreme events are expected to increase a range of health risks, from the direct effects of heat-waves, floods and storms, to more suitable conditions for the transmission of important infectious diseases, to impacts on the natural systems and socioeconomic sectors that ultimately underpin human health. Much of the potential health impact of climate change can, however, be avoided through a combination of strengthening key health system functions and improved management of the risks presented by a changing climate. The critical first step in this process is to carry out a vulnerability and adaptation assessment. This allows countries to assess which populations are most vulnerable to different kinds of health effects, to identify weaknesses in the systems that should protect them, and to specify interventions to respond. Assessments can also improve evidence and understanding of the linkages between climate and health within the assessment area, serve as a baseline analysis against which changes in disease risk and protective measures can be monitored, provide the opportunity for building capacity, and strengthen the case for investment in health protection. WHO has responded to this global demand by building on past guidance and technical tools to outline a flexible process for vulnerability and adaptation assessment. In 2009, the WHO Regional Office for the Americas and WHO prepared draft guidance for this process, which was pilot-tested in studies across all WHO Regions. In July 2010, representatives of ministries of health from 15 countries came together in Costa Rica with WHO and subject area experts to share their experiences and provide feedback on how to improve the guidance for the conduct of vulnerability assessments. This document is the result of this process. It is intended not as a final, definitive guide but as an important part of an evolving set of resources that will support effective and evidence-based action to protect health from climate change.

This book is intended to fill a gap in climate-change literature by providing a comprehensive regional study and identifying the overall adaptation challenges in a real-life context. The way in which possible climate impacts interact with a range of other challenges in agriculture, forestry, disaster planning, health care, general economic development, and common livelihoods are presented, and it is argued that greater realism and broader vision are needed in order to address the climate challenge. For instance, unsuitable land- use changes in both coastal and highland regions may increase the vulnerability of rural people, many of whom are already living on the fringes. The author(s) also state(s) that, depending on context, it may be pertinent to address short-term and unsustainable resource use, irregularities in local land management, ineffective governance and social inequality, which are all likely to aggravate the impact of external climate and weather. Not least, it is imperative to integrate general environmental management with any climate-change adaptation effort.

As climate change and urban development are closely interlinked and often interact negatively, this edited volume takes Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam’s first mega-urban region as a case study to analyse its vulnerability to climate change and to suggest measures towards a more sustainable urban development. The book offers an overview on land use planning regarding the aspects of urban flooding, urban climate, urban energy and urban mobility as well as spatial views from the angle of urban planning such as the metropolitan level, the city, the neighbourhood and building level. It shows that to a significant degree, measures dealing with climate change can be taken from the toolbox of sustainable urban development and reflects how institutional structures need to change to enhance chances for implementation given socio-cultural and economic constraints. This is merged and integrated into a holistic perspective of planning recommendations, supporting the municipal government to increase its adaptive capacity. The authors are members of a German government funded research project on how to support HCMC’s municipal government to adapt to risks related to climate change.