Governance, Vulnerability and Local Strategies in Climate Change Adaptation (Central Vietnam)

The Centre for Asian Studies of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) together with its partners, the Asian Institute of Technology in Vietnam (AIT) and the Centre for Rural Development (CRD) of Hue University, on the 7th of January held a widely attended roundtable consultation on Research, Climate Change Adaptation and Vulnerability with a specific focus on Thua Thien Hue Province. More than thirty from NGO coalitions, government offices and university departments engaged in lively discussions about the research challenges confronted in responding to climate change. Local graduate students concerned about climate change also took part.

Central Coastal provinces are national priorities in the on-going adaptation planning process, and provincial departments have been asked to work out plans. This entails significant knowledge and research challenges as well as opportunities, as Mr. Hung, Head of the Environmental Protection of DONRE, showed when guiding participants through current provincial plans and recommendations.

Provinces, like Thua-Thien Hue, are attracting a series of research initiatives with government, NGO and international funding. Participants mapped out many of the on-going initiatives, and started identifying key research priorities for the future. There was a widely-shared sense of urgency among participants to strengthen the research community both in terms of identifying research needs, improve coordination and allow for informed decision-making. Adaptation is a long-term process, yet key planning events are taking place now. IHEID, AIT and CRD are working together to support such linkages.

For further information, please contact Peter Larsen, peter.larsen@graduateinstitute.ch or Nguyen Huong Thuy Phan, phan@aitcv.vn