Seven Steps in Identifying Local Climate Change Responses for Agriculture in Vietnam

Abstract

This study presents a seven-step approach to identify and support local climate change (CC) responses in agriculture. The following seven steps comprise this approach: 1. Analyze past trends on the climatic factors and model the future trends. 2. Simulate the possible impacts of CC on the selected system (s) or product (s). 3. Present and discuss the predicted impacts with the local stakeholders. 4. Identify and rank CC responses together with the local stakeholders. 5. Elaborate plans to develop and test the highest ranked response(s). 6. Evaluate the results of the tests and recommend implementation or changes. 7. Report the results to the involved authorities and suggest ways to implement the responses and/or advise new tests of the first ones were not able to sufficiently deal with the impacts. Six pilot studies in Vietnam were funded through two projects led by Wageningen University & Research. The first addressed several production systems in one southern province, and the second in three more northern districts, each with different problems. This paper reflects and communicates the seven-step approach in order to make local CC responses accessible to the larger rural development communities. Most of the identified solutions can spread autonomously, while others will require specific planned interventions.