Mekong delta

The Vietnamese Mekong delta is home to around 20,000,000 people and contributes to 50% of the rice production of the country (90% of the rice export), 65% of its aquaculture products and 70% of its fruit production. The delta is facing increasing challenges such as land subsidence, saltwater intrusion, decreasing sediment delivery and water resources management due to dam construction in the upstream areas.

Biophysical and socio-economic changes

Intensifying human activities for livelihoods and economic development (including agricultural and aquaculture production) in previous decades have resulted in significant pressure on natural resources and ecosystems. Climate change exacerbates these impacts, increasing the future risks to not only the biophysical system but also the well-being and livelihood of inhabitants, making the Mekong delta one of the most vulnerable deltas to the impacts of climate change.

Approach 

Together with external stakeholders, researchers at the Water, Climate and Future Deltas hub apply the concept of "solution space" to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of specific adaptation measures for the Mekong delta based on insights from various disciplines (governance, law, socio-economics and physical geography). The developed solution space illustrates the opportunities and constraints and determines why, how, when and who adapts to climate risks.

Contact persons

External contact persons