Climate Change in the Mekong River Delta and Key Concerns on Future Climate Threats

Abstract

The Mekong River Delta in Vietnam is the largest agriculture and aquaculture production region of the nation. As the most downstream part of the Mekong River to both the East Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, the majority of the Delta is slightly under 2 m above sea level. Historically and practically, the people of the Delta have settled in the highest densities along the river and banks of the connected canals. Human life, agriculture and aquaculture production, and domestic water supplies in the Delta depend highly on the meteorological and hydrological regimes of the region. However, Delta livelihoods are sensitive and could be threatened by climate change and hydrological cycles. Future climate projection from the regional climate model indicates that the Mekong River Delta region will likely be warmer in the future with longer and drier summers. Seasonal ­patterns could be altered under the influence of global warming. Moreover, changes in climate patterns in the upstream region of the Mekong River may affect the flood regime of the Mekong Delta, which may lead to an extension of the ­current boundaries of flooding patterns. These changes raise many concerns, especially in terms of those who make their living from agriculture and aquaculture, because of their significant potential for creating new environmental challenges in the Mekong River Delta.