Integrated Water Resources Management in Vietnam under the Challenges of Climate Change

Abstract

Since the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) arose several decades ago, it has been recognized worldwide as the most effective approach to achieve successful and sustainable management of water and related resources. However, as the world is facing numerous problems, among which global climate change is one of the biggest challenges, how much success this approach can bring about depends on its flexibility over time. In Vietnam, moving from concept to successfully practical implementation of IWRM seems to be more difficult as the country is likely to be among the countries most affected by the changing climate. Being located in a region sensitive to climate change, the country has experienced large changes in climate variability and its effects. Over the past 50 years, the average temperature has increased 0.7oC, sea level has risen 20cm, thousands of hectares of wetland in coastal areas have been permanently inundated by saline water, and flood and drought have been occurring more frequently and more severely. It is predicted that during this century, such problems will happen at catastrophic levels, consequently producing large negative impacts on socioeconomic development, and challenging the natural resource management systems of the country. This
paper analyzes the observed and potential effects of climate change in Vietnam and discusses how the IWRM approach should be developed and implemented in the context of the changing climate. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating IWRM and climate change mitigation and adaptation (CCMA). Thus, sustainable water resources management can only be achieved when CCMA actions are well integrated into the IWRM implementation process.