11:12, 31/12/2021

Green urban growth, climate change adaptation

Nha Trang City, the capital city of Khanh Hoa Province and the coastal areas of Ninh Hoa, Cam Ranh, Van Ninh and Cam Lam are experiencing rapid urbanization. Khanh Hoa Province has had urban development strategies in harmony with the nature, the environment, green growth and adaptation to climate change...

Nha Trang City, the capital city of Khanh Hoa Province and the coastal areas of Ninh Hoa, Cam Ranh, Van Ninh and Cam Lam are experiencing rapid urbanization. Khanh Hoa Province has had urban development strategies in harmony with the nature, the environment, green growth and adaptation to climate change for sustainable urban progress. 
 
Challenges of urbanization
 
At the recent 2021 fifth Forum "Managers - Journalists - Enterprises with Natural Resources and Environment" themed "For green Vietnam", Architect Pham Thanh Tung, Chief of Office of the Vietnam Association of Architects said Khanh Hoa Province enjoys great potentials for marine economic growth with a coastline of 385km, a vast marine area and more than 200 large and small islands; and many beautiful bays and beaches such as Van Phong, Nha Trang and Cam Ranh. 
 

 

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A corner of Nha Trang City from above. Photo by Hoang Son.
 
 
In Khanh Hoa, besides its capital city of Nha Trang City, 2 satellite towns are Northern Cam Ranh Peninsula with 45 projects and Ninh Hoa Town with coastal urban areas in the wards of Ninh Thuy, Ninh Diem and Ninh Hai. Other coastal areas such as Cam Ranh, Van Ninh and Cam Lam, which are experiencing high urbanization rates, are also expected to become satellite towns.
 
However, every coin has two sides. The intensive urban growth has had adverse impacts on ecological balance and land recourses, posing significant flooding threats and causing degradation in natural water resources. The Storm Damrey, which had left massive destruction with 107 deaths and thousands of coastal households deprived of livelihoods in the Southern Central region, has shown the severity of climate change.
 
Environmental protection, climate change adaption
 
According to the report of the Provincial People's Committee to the Urban Development Agency (Ministry of Construction) at the end of 2021, in the process of economic development and urbanization, Khanh Hoa Province has effectively integrated climate change response measures into its socio-economic growth strategy and development planning of local sectors; assigned specific duties to local departments, agencies, organizations; People's Committees of districts and towns to organize the implementation of programs, projects and plans on environmental protection, contributing to climate change mitigation such as restriction of license to investment projects on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; control of solid waste and hazardous waste; motivation of clean manufacturing and clean energy development (wind, solar, hydroelectric power); mangrove restoration and biodiversity conservation.
 
Other constructions such as building embankments, water reservoirs, high-water marks, flood hazard maps, etc.; projects on saltwater intrusion dams on the Cai River, Nha Trang City, and the Coastal Cities Sustainable Environment Project, Nha Trang sub-project have contributed greatly to promoting the sustainable socio-economic development in Khanh Hoa Province. 
 
Moreover, in urban development planning and programs, the Provincial People's Committee has directed relevant units to assess actual situations towards green growth; promote propaganda to engage people in keeping urban areas green, clean and beautiful, meeting green growth goals.
 

Architect Pham Thanh Tung: We are in a new stage of development under the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress for sustainable economic progress for the national development and happiness with the use of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in management and in social life. However, we have also been faced with many challenges and hazards caused by climate change and pandemics. Therefore, protecting natural resources and living environments is an urgent strategic task of the Government, local authorities and citizens.


 

T.Thinh
Translated by N.T