VietNamNet Bridge – Experts on Wednesday warned that one-fifth of HCMC’s total area will get submerged if the sea level rises by one meter due to climate change, so urban development strategies in the city need to take into account this forthcoming reality.

llustrative image. (Photo: Internet)

The seminar “Integrative Urban and Environmental Planning – Adaptation to Climate Change” was organized by the Center for Water Management and Climate Change of the HCMC National University thanks to the funding of German’s Ministry of Education and Research.

Nguyen Ky Phung, deputy director of the Sub-Institute of Hydrometeorology and Environment of South Vietnam, warned that if the sea level rises by one meter, 39% of the Mekong Delta area will get flooded. Similarly, 20% of HCMC and 10% of the Red River Delta may also face the same woe, he said.

The Mekong Delta will have 35% of its population vulnerable to the flooding while 7% of HCMC’s population will be affected. Moreover, 4% of the railway system, 9% of national highways and 12% of provincial roads will be flooded, hindering local travel demand.

Regarding HCMC’s land use plan for 2020, experts noted that the present urban structure of the city has been largely affected by natural conditions. The city has little open space while it regularly suffers flooding caused by tidal water, they said.

A number of areas frequently suffer flooding like Binh Thanh District. As per the land use plan, the city will construct dykes for fighting flooding around Thanh Da Peninsula in this district.

Experts, however, said the area plays an important role as a park and a greenery area for the city center. Therefore, they called for relevant authorities to prevent urban development in the area.

Nguyen Van Phuoc, deputy director the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the city will narrow down agricultural land area from 121,000 hectares to 83,000 hectares by 2025 in line with a comprehensive zoning plan on urban development. And 38,000 hectares will be re-allocated as construction land and sites for new projects’ development.

The Institute of Hydrometeorology and Environment forecasts temperature in northern provinces to increase 1.6-2.2 degrees Celsius on average in the coming years.

The institute predicts temperature to mark up less than 1.6 degrees in provinces from Danang southward. Meanwhile, rainfall volumes will go up by some 6% on average in the future but the increase will be smaller in the Central Highlands.

Source: SGT