Unravelling the economic impact of climate change in Vietnam's Mekong River Delta and Southeast region

Abstract

Vietnam faces a heightened susceptibility to natural disasters stemming from climate change, yet the impact of these disasters varies markedly across its regions. Consequently, it is imperative to scrutinize the climatic factors affecting the regional economy, with a particular dearth of research addressing the nexus between natural threats and the economies of the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast region of Vietnam. The primary objective is to investigate how temperature fluctuations, rising sea levels, storms, and forest fires can detrimentally affect agriculture, forestry, and infrastructure in these regions. The present research uses the secondary data from Vietnam's General Statistics Office and the German Agency for International Cooperation. Employing quantitative analysis, the study endeavours to assess and compare the influence of climate change elements on the economic trajectories of the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast region. The findings reveal that the Mekong River Delta is disproportionately impacted by economic losses attributed to rising sea levels when juxtaposed with other regions in Vietnam. Firstly, the escalating sea levels significantly jeopardize residential and agricultural land in the Mekong River Delta (1). Secondly, while wildfires inflict damage on forestry in both the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast area, their overall impact is deemed negligible (2). Thirdly, the study ascertains that houses in the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast region remain relatively unscathed by storms (3). However, it is noted that specific storms have inflicted substantial damage on both regions (4). In light of these findings, future research should delve deeper into the analysis of storm risks in the Mekong River Delta and the Southeast region. Such insights are crucial for enhancing our understanding of the vulnerabilities and devising effective strategies to mitigate the economic repercussions of climate change in these pivotal areas.