Vietnam Mekong Delta’s Seawater Level Rise at Alarming Rate: U.S. Professor

The rising seawater levels and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta are becoming alarming, said Professor David Dapice, senior economist, Vietnam and Myanmar Program, Harvard Kennedy School. Prof. Dapice made the warning at a meeting with leaders of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on October 8. The meeting also featured a group of scientists from Fulbright University Vietnam. Mr. Dapice cited a study by the Netherlands’ Utrecht University as saying that Vietnam’s Mekong Delta is subsiding from two to three centimeters and its seawater level is rising by 0.5cm per year, while the region is just 80cm above the sea level. It is estimated that over 12 million people living in the region will be directly affected over the next 50 years if nothing is done, he added. Harvard Kennedy School is cooperating with Fulbright University Vietnam on a report to assess the potential impacts of rising seawater levels and saltwater intrusion on social welfare and economic development in the delta. The report aims to prepare for an annual policy discussion between Harvard Kennedy School and the Vietnamese government. The event, which is scheduled for early November in Massachusetts, will recommend solutions and policies to address pressing issues, especially climate change and environment. In response to climate change, Can Tho city has been implementing a World Bank-funded urban development and resilience project worth VND7 trillion ($30.2 million) in 2016-2021 to reduce floods and protect nearly 2,700 hectares of agricultural and residential land, and the livelihoods of 423,000 locals. (Vietnam Plus, Vietnam Plus, vnanet, baoxaydung, baovemoitruong)