Can Tho, Vietnam
Friday, January 10, 2020

The first workshop to initiate a comprehensive climate risk analysis took place in Can Tho, Vietnam on January 10 2020. The climate risk analysis is based on the Economics of Climate Adaptation (ECA) Methodology, combining risk assessment as well as identification and assessment of adaptation measures and insurance solutions.

Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam, and is the main centre of trade and investment in a region counting more than 17 million inhabitants. Low elevation, with an average altitude of 0.5–1 m above sea level and rising sea levels due to climate change have contributed to an increase in severe river flooding and coastal erosion. Rapid industrialization and urbanization have heightened the effects of seasonal flooding, as the city’s economic and social institutions become more dependent on reliable electric supply and standardized transportation.

The workshop was organised and implemented by the InsuResilience Solutions Fund in cooperation with the United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). The objective of the workshop was to familiarise all relevant stakeholders with the methodology applied, to understand their specific needs, and to define the final scope for the study. The People’s Committee of Can Tho, as well as the KfW Development Bank inaugurated the workshop which was attended by representatives from the rural and urban government, business associations, academia and international organisations.

The study’s results will allow policy makers to make an informed decision in prioritising cost-effective adaptation measures.

Applying risk analysis tools and models developed by the insurance sector, the ISF in cooperation with the UNU-EHS offers comprehensive climate risk analysis as an essential element of climate risk management to partners in developing and emerging economies.