Decoding the livelihood vulnerability of flood-prone communities in Vietnam: Implications for disaster risk reduction and sustainable rural development

From Firenze University Press Journal: Journal of Agriculture and Environment for International Development (JAEID)

Nguyen Cong Dinh, Faculty of Economics and Development Studies, University of Economics, Hue University, Vietnam

Nguyen Quang Tan, International School, Hue University, Vietnam

Bui Duc Tinh, Faculty of Economics and Development Studies, University of Economics, Hue University, Vietnam

Vo Hoang Ha, Faculty of Economics and Development Studies, University of Economics, Hue University, Vietnam

Nguyen Duc Kien, Faculty of Economics and Development Studies, University of Economics, Hue University, Vietnam

Pham Xuan Hung, Faculty of Economics and Development Studies, University of Economics, Hue University, Vietnam

Nguyen Hoang Khanh Linh, International School, Hue University, Vietnam

Ho Thi Phuong, School of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Technologies, Vinh University, Vinh, Vietnam

Global climate change is undeniably one of the most pressing developmental challenges facing humanity today. As climate change continues to escalate, it exposes millions of vulnerable people to unpredictable threats, jeopardizing their livelihoods and subjecting them to various risks (IPCC, 2022). This is vividly illustrated by the escalating frequency and severity of extreme weather events in numerous regions across the globe (Dinh et al., 2021). Over the past two decades, more than 10,000 extreme weather events have unfolded on a global scale, resulting in nearly 500,000 fatalities and causing an astonishing 2.6 trillion US dollars in property (Eckstein et al., 2021). Alarming projections from the UNEP Adaptation Gap Report (UNEP, 2016)indicate that the impacts of climate change will lead to an annual global cost of adaptation, estimated to range between 140–300 billion dollars by 2030 and 280–500 billion dollars by 2050. It is important to acknowledge that developing countries bear a disproportionately heavy burden, with extreme weather events affecting nearly 190 million people annually since the early 1990s. Shockingly, this accounts for 79% of all fatalities and a staggering 97% of those impacted (Walsh & Ormond-Skeaping, 2022).Vietnam, with its substantial coastal population and geographical configuration, faces severe flood impacts, with flooding alone contributing to about 97% of the country’s annual natural disaster losses losses (Dinh et al., 2021; World Bank & ADB, 2020). Between 1989 and 2015, Vietnam grappled with the dire consequences of flooding, resulting in a heartbreaking toll of 14,927 deaths, 16,829 injuries, and a financial loss amounting to 3.7 billion USD (Luu et al., 2017).This crisis continues to plague nearly one million people, particularly those residing in delta regions, coastal areas, and low-lying areas (Kien et al., 2019). In a troubling forecast, climate change is expected to exacerbate this situation, potentially affecting an estimated 9 million people in low-lying and coastal areas by the year 2044, contingent upon emission levels (World Bank & ADB, 2020).The situation is further compounded by limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of adaptive measures, factors that significantly amplify flood vulnerabilities (Ha et al., 2022; Nguyen et al., 2021). Notably, human activities, such as encroachment on rivers and unsustainable practices, have also been major contributors to the heightened flood risk (Abbas et al., 2017; Teo et al., 2018). While the academic community has dedicated significant effort to studying floods in Vietnam, the literature often overlooks the impact of flood hazards on specific populations, such as small-scale farmers and fishermen in rural areas, and their connection to poverty alleviation — a critical concern for low-and middle-income economies, in line with the United Nations Millennium Goals.Vulnerability, a central concept in the context of climate change, examines the intricate interplay between human systems, the environment, and hazards. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 1996) defines vulnerability as the susceptibility of a system to climate change and its capacity to adapt. When it comes to flooding, it quantifies how predisposed an area or community is to the consequences of inundation. Factors contributing to flood vulnerability encompass a wide array of variables, including inadequate infrastructure, urban planning, emergency services, flood mitigation, population density, socio-economic conditions, and climate change impacts (Dinh et al., 2021; Hoang et al., 2020). Polsky et al. (2007)introduced a three-dimensional model, encompassing exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Exposure refers to a system’s vulnerability to disasters, sensitivity to the impacts, and adaptive capacity to cope with them. In the case of floods, livelihood vulnerability considers the damage to households and hinges on these three dimensions, with each aspect encompassing parameters like socioeconomic and cultural conditions, rendering vulnerability assessments context-specific.Vulnerability assessment frameworks are fundamental tools in climate change studies, with primary household surveys being preferred over secondary socioeconomic statistics to minimize subjective biases in indicator selection (Jones & Tanner, 2015). The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI), introduced by Hahn, Riederer, and Foster (2009), is a pioneering example of such an assessment. To further align with the IPCC’s framework, Hahn et al. (2009)introduced the LVI-IPCC as an alternative method for assessing livelihood vulnerability. Like the LVI, the LVI-IPCC breaks down livelihood vulnerability into major and sub-components, categorizing them into three LVI-IPCC contributors: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. This framework enables a more comprehensive understanding of livelihood vulnerability, specifically concerning flooding. This approach has been adopted and adapted globally, with researchers employing it in disaster-prone developing countries like Mexico (Gran Castro & Ramos De Robles, 2019), India (Ahmad et al., 2023; Mitra & Mandal, 2022; Rehman et al., 2022), Nepal (Sujakhu et al., 2019), Pakistan (Ahmad & Afzal, 2022; Shahzad et al., 2021), Ghana (Etswire et al., 2013), and Vietnam (Hoang et al., 2020; Nguyen & Leisz, 2021; Tran et al., 2021).In the Thua Thien Hue province, recent scholarly attention has been dedicated to the examination of livelihood vulnerability. Tan et al. (2023) undertook an investigation into the interconnection between vulnerability to climate change and poverty within coastal communities. Meanwhile, Phuong et al. (2022) directed their attention towards comprehending the susceptibility of livelihoods to climate change within ethnic minority communities in mountainous areas. Despite Thua Thien Hue being recognized as notably susceptible to flood risks, there remains a conspicuous gap in the exploration of livelihood vulnerability to such natural disasters among communities residing in low-lying areas. This research endeavor holds significance as it offers valuable insights for formulating recommendations that can foster resilience and mitigate future disaster risks. Furthermore, livelihood vulnerability itself is an inherently site-specific issue, influenced by an array of factors ranging from the geographical and climatic attributes of the locality to the cultural and socio-demographic characteristics. Thus, investigations of this nature, exemplified by the aforementioned studies, contribute to a nuanced and diversified comprehension of the subject matter.This study seeks to bridge this gap by investigating the livelihood vulnerability to flood risks of two flood-prone communities in Central Vietnam, explicitly focusing on small-scale farmers and fishermen. Three interconnected objectives drive our research. Firstly, we aim to assess the comparative vulnerability of small-scale farming and fishing households to flooding by implementing the Livelihood Vulnerability Index based on the framework advanced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (LVI-IPCC). Our second objective is to identify the key factors that contribute to household flood vulnerability. Lastly, we aspire to offer policy implications and recommendations aimed at alleviating flood risk and promoting sustainable rural development in the study area. Through these objectives, this study aims to provide invaluable insights into the complex landscape of flood risk in the context of rural poverty, offering practical guidance to policymakers, development practitioners, and scientists. Furthermore, it contributes to the expanding body of literature on climate change in Vietnam, while its findings can potentially serve as a valuable reference for other flood-prone communities worldwide grappling with similar geographical challenges and significantflood-related impacts.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/jaeid-14811

Read Full Text: https://www.jaeid.it/index.php/jaeid/article/view/14811