A roundtable consultation on “Climate change vulnerability and adaptation” research agenda in Hue.

08.01.2010

The Asian Institute of Technology in Vietnam (AITVN) together with its partners, the Centre for Asian Studies of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) and the Centre for Rural Development (CRD) of Hue Nong Lam University, on the 7^th January 2010 held a widely attended roundtable consultation on Current Activities and Future Needs on Research in "Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation" with a specific focus on Thua Thien Hue province. More than thirty experts and researchers from government offices, NGO coalitions, and university departments engaged in lively discussions about the research challenges confronted in responding to climate change. Some local grad students concerned about climate change study also took part.

Central coastal provinces are national priorities in the on-going adaptation planning process, and provincial departments have been asked to work out plans. This entails significant knowledge and research challenges as well as opportunities, as Mr. Hung, Head of the Environmental Protection Agency of DONRE, showed when guiding participants through current provincial research initiatives and future orientation.

Provinces, like Thua-Thien Hue, are attracting a series of research initiatives with government, NGO and international funding. Participants mapped out many of the on-going initiatives, and started identifying key research priorities for the future. There was a widely-shared sense of urgency among participants to strengthen the research community both in terms of identifying research needs, improve coordination and allow for informed decision-making. Adaptation is a long-term process, yet key planning events are taking place now. AITVN, IHEID, and CRD/HueNLU are working together to support such linkages.

For further information please contact Nguyen Huong Thuy Phan, phan@aitcv.ac.vn or Peter Larsen, peter.larsen@graduateinstitute.ch