Assessing coastal community resilience to climate change in Central Vietnam through the Climate Disaster Resilience Index (CDRI)

Abstract

This study investigates the climate resilience of coastal communities in Vietnam’s Nghe An province, a region highly exposed due to its extensive coastline and dense population. Employing the Climate Disaster Resilience Index (CDRI), the research assesses the resilience of three districts — Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, and Nghi Loc — to climate-induced disasters. The analysis reveals good to high overall resilience across five dimensions (physical, social, economic, institutional, and natural). Dien Chau boasts the highest score (4.06), followed by Quynh Luu (4.04), and Nghi Loc (4.01). While strong infrastructure and essential services contribute to high physical resilience, social capital development requires further attention. Economic resilience is bolstered by employment rates, but income and asset accumulation need improvement. Effective policies and disaster risk management strategies highlight strong institutional resilience. Natural resource management demonstrates adaptability, but land-use planning warrants enhancement. This study underscores the districts’ good preparedness for climate challenges while pinpointing areas for improvement across all CDRI dimensions. By addressing these vulnerabilities, Nghe An’s coastal communities can further strengthen their resilience.

Keywords

• coastal communities
• Climate Disaster Resilience Index (CDRI)
• climate change
• Vietnam