In recent years, the region has faced increasingly complex and severe challenges due to climate change, significant shifts in water quantity and quality from the upstream Mekong River, as well as excessive sand mining and groundwater extraction beyond natural replenishment levels.

The Politburo stressed the need for comprehensive solutions to gradually bring these issues under control, while ensuring water security across the Mekong Delta.

Authorities at all levels are required to adopt a proactive approach to climate adaptation, respect natural processes, and correctly identify the root causes of subsidence, erosion, flooding, drought, and salinity intrusion in order to implement long-term, fundamental solutions with clear roadmaps.

The Politburo emphasized that people’s livelihoods must be the primary measure of success, with socio-economic development at the center and environmental protection, national defense, and security as foundational principles.

By the second quarter, relevant agencies are tasked with reviewing and integrating these environmental challenges into national, regional, sectoral, and local planning frameworks to ensure alignment and effectiveness.

By 2027, Vietnam aims to complete the institutionalization of Party policies into a comprehensive legal framework covering water resources, irrigation, disaster prevention, land management, forestry, construction, mineral resources, and hydrometeorology.

The Politburo also called for the development of policies encouraging the restructuring of crops and farming seasons in line with natural conditions, promoting climate-resilient agricultural and aquaculture models, and shifting toward low-water-use crops suited to different ecological zones.

Efforts will also focus on protecting and improving the quality of mangrove forests, while leveraging carbon credits and other forest-based economic benefits.

Another key priority is the effective management of water resources within river basins, irrigation systems, dikes, and urban flood control, alongside plans for efficient water use, storage, and floodwater retention in low-lying areas to better cope with drought and salinity.

Relocation and stricter oversight

The Politburo has directed the reorganization and relocation of populations from areas frequently affected by flooding or at high risk of subsidence and erosion.

At the same time, it calls for stronger application of science and technology, including artificial intelligence and digital transformation, in monitoring, forecasting, and assessing environmental risks.

The use of recycled and environmentally friendly materials as alternatives to river sand is encouraged, along with the expansion of non-structural solutions and the replication of effective models already applied in the region.

The Politburo also emphasized prioritizing state budget resources - including loans and foreign aid - for these efforts, while strengthening inspection, supervision, and accountability to prevent waste and corruption.

In addition, policies will be developed to attract private investment and public-private partnerships in projects such as riverbank and coastal erosion control, mangrove restoration, and water supply systems for both daily life and production.

Tran Thuong