Vietnam Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment, 2018

Tran Thi Tuyet Hanh; Le Thi Thanh Huong; Nguyen Thi Lien Huong; Tran Nu Quy Linh; Nguyen Huu Quyen; Nguyen Thi Trang Nhung; Kristie Ebi; Nguyen Dinh Cuong; Ha Van Nhu; Tran Mai Kien; Simon Hales; Do Manh Cuong; Nguyen Thi Thi Tho; Luu Quoc Toan; Nguyen Ngoc Bich; Hoang Van Minh

doi:10.1177/1178630220924658

Vietnam Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment, 2018

Environ Health Insights. 2020 Jun 22:14:1178630220924658. doi: 10.1177/1178630220924658. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Tran Thi Tuyet Hanh¹, Le Thi Thanh Huong¹, Nguyen Thi Lien Huong², Tran Nu Quy Linh³, Nguyen Huu Quyen⁴, Nguyen Thi Trang Nhung⁵, Kristie Ebi⁶, Nguyen Dinh Cuong⁷, Ha Van Nhu¹, Tran Mai Kien⁸, Simon Hales⁹, Do Manh Cuong², Nguyen Thi Thi Tho¹⁰, Luu Quoc Toan¹, Nguyen Ngoc Bich¹, Hoang Van Minh¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Environmental and Occupational Health, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam.
² Vietnam Health Environment Management Agency, Hanoi, Vietnam.
³ Center for Environment and Population Health, School of Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁴ Climate research and Climate Forecasting Division, Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology Science and Climate Change, Hanoi, Vietnam.
⁵ Department of Biostatistics, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam.
⁶ Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
⁷ ADB TA Project, Vietnam.
⁸ Climate Change Research Center, Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology Science and Climate Change, Hanoi, Vietnam.
⁹ Public Health Department, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand.
¹⁰ Department of Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Hanoi, Vietnam.
¹¹ Vice-Rector, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Abstract

Background: The Global Climate Risk Index 2020 ranked Vietnam as the sixth country in the world most affected by climate variability and extreme weather events over the period 1999-2018. Sea level rise and extreme weather events are projected to be more severe in coming decades, which, without additional action, will increase the number of people at risk of climate-sensitive diseases, challenging the health system. This article summaries the results of a health vulnerability and adaptation (V&A) assessment conducted in Vietnam as evidences for development of the National Climate Change Health Adaptation Plan to 2030.

Methods: The assessment followed the first 4 steps outlined in the World Health Organization's Guidelines in conducting "Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments." A framework and list of indicators were developed for semi-quantitative assessment for the period 2013 to 2017. Three sets of indicators were selected to assess the level of (1) exposure to climate change and extreme weather events, (2) health sensitivity, and (3) adaptation capacity. The indicators were rated and analyzed using a scoring system from 1 to 5.

Results: The results showed that climate-sensitive diseases were common, including dengue fever, diarrheal, influenza, etc, with large burdens of disease that are projected to increase. From 2013 to 2017, the level of "exposure" to climate change-related hazards of the health sector was "high" to "very high," with an average score from 3.5 to 4.4 (out of 5.0). For "health sensitivity," the scores decreased from 3.8 in 2013 to 3.5 in 2017, making the overall rating as "high." For "adaptive capacity," the scores were from 4.0 to 4.1, which meant adaptive capacity was "very low." The overall V&A rating in 2013 was "very high risk" (score 4.1) and "high risk" with scores of 3.8 in 2014 and 3.7 in 2015 to 2017.

Conclusions: Adaptation actions of the health sector are urgently needed to reduce the vulnerability to climate change in coming decades. Eight adaptation solutions, among recommendations of V&A assessment, were adopted in the National Health Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

Keywords: Climate change; Vietnam; health impacts; vulnerability and adaptation assessment.