What is ACCCRN?

Over 4 years, the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN) project funded by the Rockefeller Foundation aims to aid a small group of medium-sized cities in Asia to develop practical methods and tools to respond to climate change, reduce poverty and manage rapid urbanization. By developing new approaches and sharing lessons, these cities can provide leadership to this region of the world where most urban growth is occurring. The project has implemented in the cities of India, Viet Nam, Indonesia and Thailand in order to help them to prepare planning for climate change adaptation.

What is the issue?

Scientists agree that increasing human production of “greenhouse gases” (mostly from burning coal, oil and gas, and from deforestation) will cause warming of the global atmosphere into the future. This will lead to broad changes to climate that will be difficult to predict and will have uncertain local consequences. As cities in Viet Nam expand and their populations grow, their people and economies may become more vulnerable to disruption caused by extreme climate events, such as heat waves, flooding, typhoons, and storms. Despite efforts to reduce the production of greenhouse gases, climate change will bring a need for adaptation to these changing conditions. By preparing for climate disruptions, the people and economy of these cities become more resilient to climate impacts.
 

ACCCRN in Việt Nam

Da Nang, Can Tho and Quy Nhon are the three cities that were selected for the current phase of ACCCRN. In each city, the local government will direct project activities with supports from national and international partners. Those partners have been carrying out researches based on the best available scientific knowledge about climate change in Viet Nam and forecasting the future impacts on local areas. Using climate change knowledge and local information, experts and local government officials will categorize geographical areas, communities, social groups and infrastructure and identify the most vulnerable ones of each to future climate impacts. Communities, who have been dealing with the impacts of severe storms, floods, erosion and other climate impacts, will be engaged, so that they can share their experiences and lessons with the government officials and experts.

In each city, the project will work with local organizations/associations that have been active in responding to climate vulnerability, such as the Red Cross, the Women’s Union and the Fishermen’s Union. The project is expected to raise awareness of future climate impacts and to build up capacity and responses of these local organizations. The project will also test an innovative local adaptation strategy in each city, pursuing additional studies if needed to provide specific new knowledge for the local governments, and working with city technical departments to help the integration of climate change issues into their planning.

What will be the results?

At the end of this phase of the ACCCRN project, each city will gain a better understanding of climate change impacts and will be aware of what needs to be done for enhancing local adaptation to these impacts. Community members will improve their awareness of climate vulnerability, adaptive responses and measures that could provide them practical tools and methods to be prepared for future natural disasters. City technical departments and local communities will collaborate to prepare climate adaptation plans. With the help of national and international experts, these plans will be presented as funding proposals to international donors who wish to support climate change adaptation in Viet Nam.

How long is this phase of the program?

This phase of the ACCCRN program will finish in June 2010.