The Challenge

Rising sea-levels and the increased intensity and magnitude of precipitation linked to climate change, place the Red River catchment in Vietnam on the front-line of climate emergency. Whilst intense rains, localised flooding and extended dry periods have always formed an important part of the natural monsoonal seasonality, sinking land in the Red River delta is placing urgent pressure upon those communities to respond to more severe and more frequent flood events. In the upland areas of the basin, increased rainfall variability and intensity is exacerbating soil erosion, landsliding and flash flooding as well as periods of drought.

With one of the highest population densities in the world, these risks mean Vietnam’s citizens, government and policymakers are faced with significant challenges concerning flood and climate change mitigation, adaption and resilience. High cost interventions and flood defences to combat such impacts in a low to middle income country like Vietnam are unlikely. Therefore, enabling communities to adapt to their changing climate, including through education, awareness-raising and capacity development amongst its citizens is an essential step in building community-led climate action and resilience.

The Approach

"the project will result in innovative forms of knowledge exchange rooted in these diverse ways of knowing, through the creation of culturally-specific forms of affective and aesthetic expression."

This research develops creative, youth-led perspectives and action on climate challenges facing one of the most populous, economically important and ethnically diverse areas in Vietnam. Young people working together in partnership, will be supported to identify imaginative ways to mitigate climate change challenges in the Red River catchment. 

​Youth-led work will explore how local, traditional and indigenous knowledges can develop understandings and strengthen local and societal resilience through an innovative partnership approach, incorporating peer-to-peer, intergenerational and cross-/intercultural forms of collaborative learning.
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Utilising a participatory action research design and drawing upon anticolonial methods, the project will result in innovative forms of knowledge exchange rooted in these diverse ways of knowing, through the creation of culturally-specific forms of affective and aesthetic expression.

The Impact

The project works towards mitigating the impacts of climate change on the diverse rural and indigenous communities which inhabit one of Vietnam’s most important river catchments. It will do this by:

• Facilitating youth in the area to research issues that impact directly upon them and feel confident participating in policy discussions surrounding prevention and mitigation strategies to climate change;
• Recording and developing indigenous, historical knowledge and understanding on the impacts, and responses to, climate change;
• Educating the public and policy makers on the threats and environmental challenges facing global populations from large-scale human interference of deltas and;
• Ensuring that the diverse rural and indigenous communities of the Red River Catchment have access to the diverse knowledges/practices that can help mitigate and or assist adaption to a changing landscape resulting from climate change.