Vietnam has emerged as one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations because of its complex topography and coastline location. While there has been rapid growth in the country’s economy, there is also a need for sustainable urban development in Vietnam. The government urgently needs resilient infrastructure that can endure the harsh weather patterns of its environment.
In November, Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the World Bank pledged $5 million to help build sustainable urban development in Vietnam. This is a major move toward climate resilience and urban sustainability for the country. In addition to promoting a greener, more resilient future for its cities, this investment seeks to strengthen Vietnam’s ability to handle urgent environmental issues such as growing urbanization and susceptibility to climate impacts.
The World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, Mariam J. Sherman, noted that this grant could encourage further discussions about incorporating sustainable practices into the city’s economic and urban planning strategies. This will then create a paradigm for low-carbon, climate-resilient urban development. “The funding will deepen our engagement with Vietnam’s largest cities, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Can Tho, as they advance toward a vision of green growth,” she added.
This initiative will also drive sustainable growth in Vietnam’s urban centers. The two biggest cities in the country are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. These major cities are home to about one-third of the nation’s population. With a large portion of its population and economic resources, like irrigated agriculture, found in coastal lowlands and deltas, and rural areas experiencing poverty and deprivation, Vietnam has been considered one of the nations most likely to be impacted by climate change. According to the World Bank Knowledge Portal, by 2050, climate change is predicted to lower its national income by as much as 3.5%.
As part of its climate action plan, Vietnam was one of the countries that carried out the Paris Agreement. Additionally, the nation has ratified the Coalition’s “Bonn Communique.” This is from the Coalition’s High-Level Assembly (HLA), held in conjunction with the 2017 COP23 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn.
According to the Climate & Clean Air Coalition, Vietnam and other signatories voluntarily agreed to reduce methane from paddy rice and reduce short-term climate pollutants through animal production and manure management. They also pledged to reduce open burning through gradual farmer incentives and regulations. This initiative proves to the world that with the right approach, economic growth and climate mitigation can coexist. Also, reducing emissions can’t impede food production.
To help sustainable urban development in Vietnam’s major cities while regulating the growing risks and reducing the future effects of climate change, the Vietnam Accelerating Green and Resilient Growth in Large Cities Single-Donor Trust Fund was established. Through this initiative, the World Bank will create a knowledge base of operational and technological best practices that offer strategic answers to urban problems by utilizing global expertise tailored to the local environment.
Along with fostering cooperation and knowledge exchange, the initiative will help cities and national agencies mobilize and diversify financial resources for investment projects and enhance their capacity to make policy.
“This partnership reflects Switzerland’s commitment to sustainable urban development in Vietnam,” said H.E. Thomas Gass, Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam. “By combining Swiss financing with World Bank knowledge, we aim to help Vietnamese cities achieve their green growth objectives while building resilience against climate challenges.”