Download Urban Context in Vietnam

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 4045% urbanised by 2020.
Since the Doi Moi economic
reforms of the late 1980s, 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 MoST; MoU with VASS). Interest
in strengthening continuity of
partnerships.
HCMC is one of CCAP/GCRI’s
category 1 cities for research.
GTK Workshop Series
1st 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.
Since inception 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: MoC, 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.
2nd 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 MoNRE 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/PhD 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.