Reducing exposure and vulnerabilities to climatic extremes and stresses through spontaneous and guided migration

This policy discussion paper explores the linkages between climatic changes, migration and resettlement in Viet Nam, and relevant policies. It aims to outline the main lessons on migration and resettlement in relation to climatic stresses, and to recommend policy directions and key actions to strengthen resilience in both sending and receiving areas in the coming years and decades.

This paper is based on a wide range of studies and publications with a global and country-specific perspective including field research in the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City, interviews with key stakeholders across the country, and analysis of legal frameworks.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that climate change impacts combined with rapid population growth in areas exposed to climatic hazards, are likely to result in greater displacement in future, and permanent relocation of populations may become increasingly necessary (IPCC 2012). The IPCC also identified the Mekong Delta as one of three ‘extreme’ global hotspots in terms of potential population displacement as a result of sea level rise (IPCC 2007). Viet Nam faces serious climatic stresses, now and in the future, with major impacts on the economy, lives and livelihoods, and threatening vulnerable groups such as people living in poverty, women, children and elderly, ethnic minorities and people living with disabilities.