Urbanisation Challenges in Vietnam Dr Ifte Ahmed Climate

Urbanisation Challenges in Vietnam Dr Ifte Ahmed Climate Change Adaptation Programme Global Cities Research Institute RMIT University Melbourne

Urban Context in Vietnam Rapidly urbanising: 3% urbanisation rate adding 1 million people annually to the urban population. Expected 40 -45% urbanised by 2020. Since the Doi Moi economic reforms of the late 1980 s, more foreign investments and urban development attracting large numbers of migrants. Expansion into surrounding countryside. Impact of Doi Moi: rural-urban disparity, rich-poor gap (despite reduction in national poverty) and environmental problems. Growth of inadequate housing and urban poor informal settlements in hazardous and marginal areas.

Urban Context in Vietnam

Cities & Climate Change Expected to be most severely affected by CC particularly by SLR along extensive coastline. HCMC - low-lying in the Mekong Delta. >43% could face inundation. Half of areas planned for future development located <2 metres above SL. CC impacts already evident - increased frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events, eg 2008 Hanoi floods - induced by prolonged heavy rainfall. HCMC contributes nearly 20% to GDP. Investments concentrated in cities vulnerable to significant economic loss with national repercussions due to CC impacts. Understanding/Application of CCA/M measures and sustainable urban development largely lacking, although so relevant in such a context.

RMIT Links RMIT campuses in HCMC and Hanoi over 4000 students. HCMC campus opened in 2001 - a major $37 million investment in the new urban development of Saigon South. RMIT-HCMC will have a stronger presence and deepen its connection through expansion of planned new facilities. RMIT has strong links with Vietnamese institutions (eg research agreement with Mo. ST; Mo. U with VASS). Interest in strengthening continuity of partnerships. HCMC is one of CCAP/GCRI’s category 1 cities for research.

GTK Workshop Series 1 st GTK workshop in HCMC, July 2009; supported by CCAP/GCRI & GHD. Attended by over 60 participants from key institutions. 2 -day program included: – Key scene setting seminars by local and RMIT experts. – Workshop sessions for identifying information gaps for targeted research. – Workshop session on strategies to share information and to establish a network of experts to assist sustainable development in the Mekong and elsewhere in Vietnam. – Workshop session involving RMIT Melbourne students. Next workshop in July 2010 to coincide with 1000 years of urban development in Vietnam; continuity of network.

CCAP Partners VGBC NGO with mission to promote CCA/M with focus on built environment. Sinception in 2007 supported by CCAP. Range of activities eg study visit to Melbourne for Green Building course, development of green building assessment tools, training/awareness raising, pilot studies. Links: Mo. C, UNDP/UNEP/UNHabitat. Also Industry links.

VGBC / LOTUS The LOTUS Green Building Assessment Scheme First system to combine Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation for the built environment in Vietnam. Based on analysis of other international systems; adapted for Vietnam.

VGBC / LOTUS Rating system (10 credits) Checklists (10) Handbook Appendices

VGBC / URBAN POOR HOUSING 3 -Stage Collaborative Research Project: – Visiting researcher hosted at RMIT under Endeavour Executive Award. Desktop study, paper accepted for referred journal. – Study on perceptions of officials of housing delivery institutions on urban poor housing in CC context. – Study on perceptions of urban poor households and housing process.

CCAP Partners VASS 3 study visits since 2008. 2 nd visit: 3 researchers on Endeavour Executive Scholarships for 3 months for research at RMIT on CCA relating to Social Sciences. Developed an agenda for Social Sciences research on CCA to inform the Vietnamese government. Most research on CC in Vietnam is conducted by scientists primarily under Mo. NRE on bio-physical aspects. Hardly any contribution by social scientists.

VASS / Agenda for SS Research on CCA Agenda Objectives Assessment of socio-economic impacts of climate change in Vietnam, in vulnerable regions, sectors, provinces, communities, social groups and individuals. Finding and contributing knowledge from social science aspects to improve climate-change adaptation and mitigation capacity and activity in Vietnam, accordingly to the National Target Program. Assessment of social vulnerability to climate change at different levels, from nation to regions, sectors, provinces, communities, social groups and individuals. Enhancing capacity of VASS and other academic institutions on climate change research and promoting the role of VASS in the national response to climate change. Promoting national and international collaborations.

VASS / Recent Collaboration VASS Delegation 2010 Included President of VASS. Sought to promote greater engagement and map out opportunities for collaboration. Collaborative activity with RMIT on issues of climate change adaptation and sustainable development within the areas of training, research and policy development. As highlighted, Vietnam has advantage of being a latecomer to adaptation and therefore able to learn from experience of others. Of particular interest is knowledge with regards to climate change adaptation and tools to support decision-making e. g. indicators of sustainability. Recently licensed by the Vietnam government to set up educational and training facility at Masters/Ph. D level on sustainability issues and is therefore keen to access relevant international knowledge.

VASS / Recent Collaboration CCA in Urban Areas of Central Vietnam Joint workshop on climate risk & adaptation and issues of sustainable urban development in Vietnam in July 2010 (Hué). Foundation for developing a jointly-run training course, refined to the needs of local Vietnamese stakeholders (i. e. assessment of local needs and materials that will most usefully support capacity building activity in local People’s Committees). Focus on secondary cities of central Vietnam – region experiencing severe climate change impacts and relatively impoverished compared to the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City conurbations.

CC Impacts / Central Vietnam

Potential for Sustainable Urban Development & Climate Resilience Vast national ‘construction site’ - opportunity for advancing sustainable CC adaptive development. Potential for leapfrogging by avoiding mistakes made elsewhere. One of the poorest countries in the world to one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. Since Doi Moi, per capita GDP has risen < $100 to > $2, 000. Means more disposable funds are available, evident from increased urban consumption patterns. Huge scale of urban development and funds invested. No significant fund constraint for sustainable development. Need for changing existing perceptions and priorities, political will and green champions. Shift towards decentralisation - increased local level capacity development needs – can include sustainable and CCA agenda.

Partnerships for Sustainable Urban Development & Climate Resilience Scope for developing multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder partnership in Vietnam through knowledge exchange between GCRI/CCAP and its partners in Vietnam. Through such partnerships and knowledge exchange, potential to develop strategic frameworks that explicitly address climate resilience and sustainable urban development in Vietnam’s cities as they look to the future.