Da Nang’s Climate Change Coordination Office, together with the assistance of the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International, recently completed a hydrology and urban development simulation model project in the city of Da Nang. The 224, 448 USD project, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation aimed to:

– Develop and support a database on Da Nang’s socioeconomic development to assist the management of urban development, climate change and sea level rise;
– Develop a hydrologic-hydraulic model, and simulate urban flood maps under different urban development, climate change and sea level rise scenarios;
– Contribute to steering city urban plans towards sustainable development in the context of exacerbating climate change and sea level rise;
– Build awareness among organizations and local people about the potential impacts of climate change and sea level rise on urban development; and
– Build the capacity of staff from relevant agencies in the application of hydrologic-hydraulic modeling.

ISET joined efforts to redevelop plan for the southern area of the city

The project, which drew to a close in August 2013, produced a number of key results, which moving forward should be carefully considered when carrying out urban development planning and climate change resilience strategies within the city.

Modification to the draft of Da Nang’s urban master plan until 2030 with vision to 2050.

A summary of the projects key results is listed below:

– Construction in floodplain and floodway areas increases flood levels, changes flood patterns, and leads to more severe flood events in urban areas and low-lying flood-prone areas of Da Nang;
– Climate change and sea level rise will increase the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events in Da Nang and its surroundings;
– Flooding is a critical issue that needs to be addressed step by step;
– People living in flood plain areas highly exposed to flood risks will suffer from increases in flood damages and recovery costs;
– When carrying out urban infrastructure plans (especially land filling and water drainage plans), there would be large risks associated with relying on warning levels of historical floods and hydrological data from the hydro-meteorological center of middle central Vietnam;
– If the “Da Nang development plan until 2030 with vision to 2050” is used to inform urban planning in the southern area of the city, flood levels are likely to increase and this may lead to serious urban flood issues in the future;
– International practices in urban planning suggests protection of floodplains is necessary for emergency flood retention and can be used for recreational or agricultural purposes;
– Floods can affect the city’s reputation and future land prices; and
– The local government will face higher costs to repair urban infrastructure.

Using the results of the model and the approach suggested by ISET-International experts, DOC worked with the Da Nang Urban Planning Institute to adjust Da Nang’s Development Plan. This included widening the floodways and maintaining/improving most of the existing low-lying rural areas; and adjusting land use planning in riverine areas to adapt to and minimize risks from future urban flooding. On December 04, 2013, the Prime Minister approved the modifications to Da Nang’s Development Plan under decision no. 2357/QĐ-TTg.

The project’s final report (in English and Vietnamese) can be found here. For more information, please contact: danang.ccco@gmail.com.

Mai Huong, Da Nang CCCO

Original post on CCCO Đà Nẵng website

Climate Change Coordination Office of Da Nang city 

Director: Mr. Dinh Quang Cuong

Address: 42 Bach Dang, Da Nang

Tel: 0511.3888508 – Fax: 0511.3825321

Email: danang.ccco@gmail.com – Website: http://ccco.danang.gov.vn/