IN-PERSON London. Section B

Abstract

Coastal delta cities are facing simultaneous flood pressures due to the combination of coastal, deltaic and climate dynamics, which are being exacerbated by rapid urbanization and the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise. Such circumstances raise enormous sustainability challenges for urban flood management, which require partnership between a wide range of the cities’ stakeholders and across multiple disciplines. This research looks at the flooding issues through the lens of Science – Policy – Practice Interface (SPPI): the cross-disciplinary collaboration between the actors of Science, Policy, and Practice (e.g. scientists, policymakers, urban practitioners and the communities), and the interface between scientific knowledge, policy formulation and implementation. The SPPI in flood management was examined through the case of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) – a vulnerable delta city in the Asia-Pacific region. The processes behind several flood management projects in this city were investigated, through analyzing of project’s documents, interviewing involved actors and observing project’s operation. The finding reveals many barriers in political and social mechanisms constraining the collaboration between stakeholders and the application of timely measures to manage flooding. Yet there are several bright sides where possible points of impact and facilitators to the cooperation were identified. These finding and understandings are crucial for developing solutions to overcome existing constraints and foster the synergies across the Science, Policy, and Practice to tackle the challenges of flood management and make delta cities like HCMC more livable.