The scheme will be implemented in all cities and provinces across the country, particularly those directly affected by climate change.

Two defined categories are an urban system in deltas and along coastlines and rivers in dangers of flood, sea level rise, land loss and saline water contamination and the other in moutainous and highlands region which is affected by flash floods, landslide and groundwater depletion.

The scheme’s first phase between 2013 and 2015 will be implemented in Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Can tho, Hai Phong, Da Nang cities and Ca Mau province and the second phase between 2016 and 2020 will be realized in 24 urban areas of 15 northern, central coastal and Mekong Delta provinces, and 11 urban areas of ten northern and highland mountainous provinces.

After 2020, the scheme will be focused on coastal and delta urban areas in dangers of floods and the urban system affected by flash floods and landslides in the northern moutainous, central coastal, southeastern and highlands regions.

The scheme comprises major tasks and solutions on studying and evaluating the effect of climate change on the current and future urban system in the 2013-2020 period; taking into account climate change in urban development plans and making alerts on risks at urban areas affected by climate change.

Amendments and supplements should be made to legal documents, policy frameworks and standards related to urban classification, as well as planning and management on urban development, housing and technical infrastructure.

A system controlling and mitigating floods in urban areas should be also established, particularly building reservoirs to ease floods, improving the urban sewage system, constructing dykes and dams to prevent floods and modern large-scale underground tanks, protecting, evacuating and resettling residents in risky areas, as well as developing accomodations with capacity of coping with floods and storms.

Capacity of leaders and specialised officers at all levels in managing and developing urban areas to cope with climate change should be enhanced while communication about climate change and relevant sides’ collaboration should be furthered.

In addition, scientific and technological cooperative studies and pilot projects on developing green urban areas and architecture should be conducted whilst encouraging energy saving, emission reduction, environment friendly material development, reuse and recycle.

                                                                                                                            By Vien Nhu