On 10 February the inauguration ceremony for the models of urban ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) measures, including ‘Green Walls and Green Roofs’, ‘Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems’, and ‘Water Retention Areas’ was co-hosted by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quang Binh Province and the project “Support to Viet Nam for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement”(VN-SIPA). The Project was funded by the German Government. The ceremony was held at the Public Service Management Unit Building of Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province.
After undergoing comprehensive technical and vulnerability assessments, an extensive public participation process, and nine months of construction (March to November 2022), the three models have been completed and officially handed over to the city. The climate adaptaion measures were accompanied by a capacity building programme to strengthen the capacity of the local government staff to plan and implement future measures. The training sessions were attended by about 100 leaders and technical staff working in urban EbA and climate risk management at provincial and district levels. Additional training was held for more than 650 people from 10 communities in Dong Hoi City.
This inauguration ceremony was held to announce the successful implementation of the EbA projects in Dong Hoi City, as well as to raise public awareness about climate change and the potential of urban EbA, and to demonstrate the local authority’s commitment to strengthen urban resilience.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by representatives from GIZ, Quang Binh People’s Committee, Dong Hoi City People’s Committee, Quang Binh Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Quang Binh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Quang Binh Department of Transportation, and Quang Binh Environment and Urban Development., JSC. Attendees were informed about the potential risks of climate change in urban areas and the significance of ecosystem-based adaptation measures as well as the project’s technical processes and functions.
After participating in the site visit, participants were impressed by the positive results and impacts of the three measures. “We expect all three models of ‘Green Walls and Green Roofs’, ‘Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems’, and ‘Water Retention Areas’ to be useful and practical.
After evaluating the project, we are very satisfied with the results. We hope these measures will be replicated in other parts of the province, too.” said Mr. Pham Van Luong, Deputy Director of Quang Binh Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
For many years, Quang Binh and other Central Coastal provinces have, due to their specific geographical features and long coastlines, often faced extreme weather events, such as drought, storms, flash floods, landslides, waterlogging, etc., causing loss of life and catastrophic impacts on people’s property and livelihoods. It is predicted that with rising global temperatures, such extreme weather events will further increase in frequency in Quang Binh. To prepare and adapt is therefore of utmost urgency.
“Cities along the coastline of Viet Nam face the challenges of increasing frequency of typhoons and flooding as a consequence of climate change. The ecosystem-based adaptation models implemented in Quang Binh are examples of how cities can prepare and adapt and as such, mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The models chosen furthermore integrate nature-based solutions and provide important co-benefits for biodiversity protection. The support to Dong Hoi through the International Climate Initiative intended to better equip the local government with the capacities to plan and identify urban adaptation measures to increase flood water absorption and demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of nature-based solutions for that purpose. We anticipate that the successful models will have a lasting impact on urban adaptation planning and help make Dong Hoi a more resilient and livable place, “ said Daniel Herrmann, the Chief Technical Advisor of VN-SIPAProject. .
The project “Support to Viet Nam for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement”(VN-SIPA) is funded through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Nature Resource and Environment, and other stakeholders. GIZ cooperated with Quang Binh Department of Natural Resources and Environment and other relevant partners in implementing the pilot models of the three completed adaptation measures. In particular, the ‘Sustainable Urban Drainage System’, can be considered a good example of multi-stakeholder cooperation in ecosystem-based adaptation investments.
