Suchergebnisse

INTRODUCTION: Saltwater intrusion and salinisation have contributed to drinking water scarcity in many coastal regions globally, leading to dependence on alternative sources for water supply. In southwest coastal Bangladesh, communities have few options but to drink brackish groundwater which has been associated with high blood pressure among the adult population, and pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension among pregnant women. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR), the purposeful recharge of surface water or rainwater to aquifers to bring hydrological equilibrium, is a potential solution for salinity problem in southwest coastal Bangladesh by creating a freshwater lens within the brackish aquifer. Our study aims to evaluate whether consumption of MAR water improves human health, particularly by reducing blood pressure among communities in coastal Bangladesh. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study employs a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled community trial design in 16 communities over five monthly visits. During each visit, we will collect data on participants' source of drinking and cooking water and measure the salinity level and electrical conductivity of household stored water. At each visit, we will also measure the blood pressure of participants ≥20 years of age and pregnant women and collect urine samples for urinary sodium and protein measurements. We will use generalised linear mixed models to determine the association of access to MAR water on blood pressure of the participants. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). Informed written consent will be taken from all the participants. This study is funded by Wellcome Trust, UK. The study findings will be disseminated to the government partners, at research conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02746003; Pre-results.

This study focusses on a method for estimating the urban recharge and evaluating the ground water quality for drinking and irrigation purposes. The study was carried out in the Liverpool Local Government Area of New South Wales, Australia, and it included year-long monitoring of four boreholes for the water table depth and water quality. Average depth of water table was in the range of 1 to 4 m from the land surface. The pattern of variations in the water table depth (WTD) varied across the four boreholes. The WTD variations between borehole 2 (BH2) and borehole 3 (BH3) were similar, but significantly different variations were exhibited in BH1 and BH 4, with BH1 showing a quicker response to rainfall events. The presence of lake appears to have influenced the recharge pattern in the adjacent area as reflected in the WTD variations in BH3 and BH4. The recharge rates for BH3 and BH4 was about 2 to 5 times higher than those observed for BH1 and BH2, which are located at a relatively greater distance from the lake. This indicates that the presence of urban lakes can influence recharge rate in the area. Water quality analysis indicated higher salt and turbidity levels, which may be attributed to the local geology (the Wianamatta group) present in the study area and/or possible saltwater intrusion. This has implications for the treatment cost associated with the supply of the groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. Pearson's analysis indicated a significant correlation between EC, TDS, Turbidity and pH. The turbidity of groundwater varied between 33 and 530 NTU, indicating that the turbidity may have been affected by the dissolution of salt deposits via colloidal particles. Significant variations in groundwater quality during rainy periods, also, indicated the existence of groundwater recharge in the study area. This study highlights the issues associated with the groundwater recharge and quality management in urban landscapes and provides a basis for further research.

Abstract. Vietnam is a major rice producer, and much of the rice grown is concentrated in the Red River Delta (RRD) and the Mekong River Delta (MRD). While the two deltas are highly productive regions, they are vulnerable to natural hazards and the effects of human-induced environmental change. To show that the processes and issues affecting food security are reinforcing, interdependent and operating at multiple scales, we used a systems-thinking approach to represent the major linkages between anthropogenic land-use and natural hazards and elaborate on how the drivers and environmental processes interact and influence rice growing area, rice yield and rice quality in the two deltas. On a local scale, demand for aquaculture and alternative crops, urban expansion, dike development, sand mining and groundwater extraction decrease rice production in the two deltas. Regionally, upstream dam construction impacts rice production in the two deltas despite being distally situated. Separately, the localized natural hazards that have adversely affected rice production include droughts, floods and typhoons. Outbreaks of pests and diseases are also common. Climate-change-induced sea level rise is a global phenomenon that will affect agricultural productivity. Notably, anthropogenic developments meant to improve agricultural productivity or increase economic growth can create many unwanted environmental consequences such as an increase in flooding, saltwater intrusion and land subsidence, which in turn decreases rice production and quality. In addition, natural hazards may amplify the problems created by human activities. Our meta-analysis highlights the ways in which a systems-thinking approach can yield more nuanced perspectives to tackle "wicked" and interrelated environmental challenges. Given that deltas worldwide are globally significant for food production and are highly stressed and degraded, a systems-thinking approach can be applied to provide a holistic and contextualized overview of the threats faced in each location.

Sea level rise, tropical cyclones, saltwater intrusion, and coastal flooding along with many other natural hazards are increasingly common in many parts of the world, and regions like coastal Bangladesh are at the frontline of these impacts. Due, in part, to the ongoing climate crisis, male members of coastal households in Bangladesh are outmigrating temporarily or permanently. Reduced farm productivity can be blamed on this to a large extent. Men leave female members of their households behind in their coastal villages during the first phase of migration. This creates a new form of social injustice as women are not only exposed to the negative impacts of the climate crisis to a larger extent, but they also face the challenges of maintaining a farming livelihood as they confront patriarchal socio-cultural norms and expectations during the absence of male members of the families. Using the frameworks of critical development and political ecology, this paper unpacks how these farming women who stay in the rural villages in coastal Bangladesh have a higher social vulnerability then men do. More particularly, this paper illustrates the complex nature of social and environmental injustice, experienced by women because of the outmigration of male members of the households. An intersectional approach further explains how, in contrast to usual class / income privileges, religio-cultural norms and prohibitions result in women belonging to the ethno-religious majority being more vulnerable than minority women. This is due to restrictions from interacting alone with men to whom they are not related, which reduces their access to the knowledge and resources that flows though male-dominated social networks. This article contributes to our understanding of the complex interactions between humans and the environment, mediated by various social, cultural, and political factors, and provides critical policy insights on inclusive adaptation and long-term sustainability. (Asian Aff / GIGA)

Chapter1. The Sustainable Development of Green Space in the Tourism Zone of Moc Chau Mountains (Son La, Vietnam) -- Chapter2. Wooden Funeral Sculptures of the Jrai and Bahnar in the Vietnam Central Highlands: Conservation or Destruction?- Chapter3. Traditional Concepts on "Sustainability" in Vietnamese Culture and the Impacts on Forming Modern Values of Sustainable Development -- Chapter4. Educational Renovation in a Restructuring Society: Vietnam's Case Study -- Chapter5. Tourism Climate Indicators (TCI) Applied in Moc Chau District (Son La, Vietnam). Chapter6. Carbon Footprint of Vietnam's Small Urban Areas (A Case Study of Ha Dong District, Hanoi) -- Chapter7. Agriculture Land Conversion and Its Implications for Food Requirements and Farming in Vietnamese Northern Mountains -- Chapter8. Urban Exclusion: Theoretical Approaches and Emerging Trajectories for Vietnam -- Chapter9. Applying Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to Analyze Factors Affecting the Entrepreneurial Intention of the Students of Vietnam National University, Hanoi -- Chapter10. Creating an Added-Value Capital of Forest Based on the Local Knowledge of Tai in Tuong Duong (Nghe An, Vietnam) -- Chapter11. Minimizing the Negative Effects of Irrigation and Hydropower System on Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection in the Huong River Basin -- Chapter12. Socio-Economic Development towards Sustainable Ecological Model in Vietnam -- Chapter13. Perennial Cropping System Development and Economic Performance of Perennial Cropping System in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam -- Chapter14. Sustainable Agriculture Development in Vietnam -- Chapter15. Community Participation in Urban Planning in Vietnam towards Sustainable Development - Prospects and Challenges -- Chapter16. Current Status and Impact of Imbalance of Sex Ratio at Birth in the Son La Province, Vietnam -- Chapter17. Obstacles in the Sustainable Development of Industry in Ethnic Minorities' Areas of Vietnamese Mekong Delta (Kien Giang and Can Tho) -- Chapter18. Integrating Sustainable Development into National Policy: The Practice of Vietnam -- Chapter19. Building Human Capital for Sustainable Development: Experience from Some East Asia Countries and Policy Implications for Vietnam -- Chapter20. Mapping Marine Functional Zoning for the Northern Tonkin Coastal Zone, Vietnam -- Chapter21. Rainfall Regime and Its Impact on Water Resources on Ly Son Island, Central Vietnam -- Chapter22. Factors Affecting Community Forest Management in Ha Giang Province, Vietnam -- Chapter23. Impacts of Urban Expansion on Landscape Pattern Changes: A Case Study of Da Nang City, Vietnam -- Chapter24. An Assessment of Pollution Load Capacity of Son La Hydropower Reservoir in the Northwest Mountains of Vietnam 40 -- Chapter25. An Approach for Prioritising Climate Change Mitigation Measures: A Case Study in Ho Chi Minh City -- Chapter26. Developing Agricultural Production of Ethnic Minority Households in the Context of Climate Change (Lak District, Dak Lak Province, Central Highland of Vietnam) -- Chapter27. Detecting Flash Flood Susceptible Areas Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making Model: A Case Study of Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam -- Chapter28. Implementing Agricultural Land Use Solutions to Adapt Climate Change in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta -- Chapter29. Geothermal Renewable Energy in Vietnam: A Current Status Overview and Proposing Solutions for Development -- Chapter30. Study on stand structure of secondary mangrove forest; Sonneratia caseolaris - Aegicerus corniculatum stand for introducing silvofishery systems to shrimp-culture ponds -- Chapter31. Evaluation the effectiveness of sheath blight disease controlling on rice caused by Rhizoctonia solani in green house condition by applying some biofungicides -- Chapter32. Consideration on the Use Sentinel-1 Radar Image and GIS for Flood Mapping in the Lai Giang River Basin of Binh Dinh Province (Central Coast Vietnam) -- Chapter33. Studying Shoreline Change in Ky Anh Coastal Area of Ha Tinh Province during 1989-2013 based on the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) -- Chapter34. How Do Yao Farmers Cope with Extreme Weather Events with Their Indigenous Knowledge? A Case Study of Mo Vang Mountains (Yen Bai, Vietnam) -- Chapter35. Multilevel Governance Roles in Land Use Change: Lessons for REDD+ from the Case Study in Nghe An Province, Vietnam -- Chapter36. Technical Efficiency of Irrigation Water Use of Robusta Coffee Production in the Dong Nai river basin (Vietnam): A case study of Lam Dong province -- Chapter37. Climate Change Vulnerability of Agriculture in Coastal Communes of Quang Tri Province, Vietnam -- Chapter38. A GIS Application in Optimizing the Collection and Transportation Route of Domestic Solid Waste in Hue City, Vietnam -- Chapter39. Water-Food-Energy Nexus in the Context of Climate Change: Develop a Water Security Index for Water Resources Management in Vietnam -- Chapter40. An Integrated Approach for Saltwater Intrusion Monitoring based on Remote Sensing combined with Multivariable Analysis: A Case Study of Coastal Zone in Southern Vietnam -- Chapter41. Diversity of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in the Hoang Lien - Van Ban Nature Reserve (Lao Cai, Vietnam): Implications for Local Livelihood Improvement and Biodiversity Conservation -- Chapter42. Quantify Forest Stand Volume Using SPOT 5 Satellite Image -- Chapter43. Evaluating Impact of Climate Change to Fishing Productivity of Vietnam: An Application of Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Regression Model -- Chapter44. An Experimental Study on Using Biogas Slurry to Improve the Water Quality of Aqua-Culture Systems in Acid Sulfate Soil Areas -- Chapter45. Assessment of Saltwater Intrusion Vulnerability in the Coastal Aquifers in Ninh Thuan, Vietnam -- Chapter46. Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Urban Planning of Vietnamese Coastal Towns toward Sustainable Development -- Chapter47. Mike Flood Application for Solving Inundation Issues for Ho Chi Minh City in The Context of Climate Change: A Case Study in the District 1 -- Chapter48. Enhancing the Efficiency of Land Dispute Mediation for Ethnic Minorities in Van Canh district (Binh Dinh, Vietnam) -- Chapter49. A Stakeholder Delphi Study on Local Communities Adaptation to Climate Change in the Coastal Area: Case Study in An Duong District (Hai Phong, Vietnam) -- Chapter50. Assessing Flash Flood Risks based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information System (GIS): A Case Study of Hieu Catchment (Nghe An, Vietnam) -- Chapter51. Analysis and Prediction of Noise Pollution from Wind Turbines: A Case Study of Loi Hai Wind Power Plant (Ninh Thuan, Vietnam) -- Chapter52. An Environmental Zoning for Sustainable Development in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam -- Chapter53. Climate Change Vulnerability of Urban Development in the Phanrang-Thapcham (Ninh Thuan, Vietnam).

1. HYDRO peaking in nordic rivers/ hydropeaking combined analysis of climate change and energy market -- 2. Annual Variability of Per Capita Renewable Water Resources: Long Term Water Planning Using SWAT Model in the Athi Catchment, Kenya -- 3. Monte Carlo simulation and fuzzy modelling of river water quality for multiple reaches using QUAL2Kw -- 4. Design of Stable Channel Using HEC-RAS: A Case Study of Tapi River, Surat City -- 5. Nutrient fluxes from agriculture: reducing environmental impact through optimum application -- 6. Air Quality Monitoring with Special Reference to Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter in an Industrial Area -- 7. The water-energy nexus prespective of hydropower in the context of climate Change -- 8. Biological methodologies for treatment of textile wastewater -- 9. Role of microbes in Environmental Biotechnology and its role in the environment -- 10. Environmental Hazards of Limestone Mining and Review of Adaptive Practices for Environment Management Planning -- 11. Water Optimisation in Thermal Power Plants -- 12. Geoengineering Structures of Crabs and Their Role in Nutrient Cycling in Mangrove Ecosystem of Mahanadi Delta of Odisha, India -- 13. Design Considerations of Sustainable Pervious Concrete Block Pavement -- 14. Analysis of Historical Records of Climate Change and the Calamitous Events in Kasmir Valley -- 15. Possible Remediation of Perils of Water Eminence and Extent -- 16. Optimization methodologies in complex water supply systems for energy saving and a correct management under uncertainty -- 17. Application of a low-cost technology to treat domestic sewage and to improve fertility of a barren lateritic soil -- 18. Parametric evaluation of water quality characteristics varying downstream from Shimla to Solan in Himachal Pradesh region, India -- 19. Partial replacement of fine aggregates with defluoridation sludge in cement mortars manufacturing: A critical review -- 20. Genetically Modified Crops and its impact on Environment -- 21. Degradation of Gemfibrozil (lipid regulating drug) by using Advanced Oxidation and Biological Processes: A Review -- 22. Source Apportionment of particulate matter - A Critical Review for Indian Scenario -- 23. A review on Ionic liquids as novel adsorbents for SO2 removal -- 24. Garden-Landscape Practices in Mughal Kashmir: Design, Planning and Management -- 25. Long Term Performance Evaluation of Permeable Reactive Barrier for Groundwater Remediation using Visual MODFLOW -- 26. Use of Electrical Resistivity Tomography for Detection and Delineation of Groundwater Contamination near a Non-engineered Solid Waste Landfill -- 27. Saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers: A case of environmental management -- 28. Assessment of groundwater quality around Coal mining regions of Korba district, Chhattisgarh, Central India -- 29. Numerical errors associated with groundwater models and improving the reliability of models in environmental management issues -- 30. Staus of Groundwater Salinity in North West Region of India.-31. Irrigation Water Management under Changing Climate -- 32. Particle Swarm Optimization for identification of unknown groundwater pollution source -- 33. Fluoride Contamination and Abatement Measures: A Geoenvironmental Perspective -- 34. Interaction between Groundwater and surface water and its effect on groundwater quality -- 35. Assessment of an Intrinsic and a Specific vulnerability to identify Groundwater vulnerable zones of Nagpur city, India -- 36. Sustainable water management solutions -- Conclusions .

In recent years, there has been a developing trend of labelling some disasters as 'climate change disasters'. In doing so, a discursive phenomenon can emerge that the authors have coined 'climatization' which is specified as framing a disastrous event or degraded environmental condition as caused by climate change, in order to reach an intended goal or to distract the discussion from the real problem which might have a different root course than caused by the climate change effects. The implications of climatization are currently unclear – particularly to what extent climatizing a disaster might increase or decrease the vulnerability of a population at risk of disaster. The purpose of this paper is thus to open up the concept of climatization to investigation, and examine what affect such a discursive framing might have on public and political perception. Climatization is here discussed in the context of Bangladesh – a country that is expected to be among the worst affected by climate change and a country in which some people claim the effects of climate change can already be seen. A qualitative field study which included key informant interviews, focus group discussions and a literature review was conducted in Bangladesh. The study found recent examples of climatization related to Cyclone Aila (2009) and salt water intrusion in Bangladesh. In most cases these disasters were climatized in order to create a sense of urgency in order to push for an increase in financial aid to Bangladesh and to deflect responsibility for inaction that led up to the disaster. This study urges caution as there is a potential for climatization to be used as a means to cover up negligence or bad management and there is a risk that by climatizing a disaster key vulnerabilities may be overlooked ; In recent years, there has been a developing trend of labelling some disasters as 'climatechange disasters'. In doing so, a discursive phenomenon can emerge that the authors havecoined 'climatization' which is specified as framing a disastrous event or degraded environmentalcondition as caused by climate change, in order to reach an intended goal or to distractthe discussion from the real problem which might have a different root course than caused bythe climate change effects. The implications of climatization are currently unclear – particularly to what extent climatizinga disaster might increase or decrease the vulnerability of a population at risk ofdisaster. The purpose of this paper is thus to open up the concept of climatization to investigation,and examine what affect such a discursive framing might have on public andpolitical perception. Climatization is here discussed in the context of Bangladesh – a country that is expectedto be among the worst affected by climate change and a country in which some peopleclaim the effects of climate change can already be seen. A qualitative field study whichincluded key informant interviews, focus group discussions and a literature review wasconducted in Bangladesh. The study found recent examples of climatization related to Cyclone Aila (2009) and saltwater intrusion in Bangladesh. In most cases these disasters were climatized in order tocreate a sense of urgency in order to push for an increase in financial aid to Bangladeshand to deflect responsibility for inaction that led up to the disaster. This study urges cautionas there is a potential for climatization to be used as a means to cover up negligence orbad management and there is a risk that by climatizing a disaster key vulnerabilities maybe overlooked.

- Progress in Biosynthesized of Silver Nanoparticles as Sustainable Approach for Photocatalytic Wastewater Treatment -- Impact of Onshore Construction Activities on Sea Water Turbidity -- Characteristics of Natural Organic Matter and Trihalomethanes Formation in The Southern Part of Songkhla Lake Basin -- Characterization and Statistical Multivariate Analysis of Potentially Toxic Elements Contamination of Groundwater in Chiniot Area, Punjab Plain, Pakistan -- A Systematic Literature Review on Rainwater Quality Influenced by Atmospheric Conditions with A Focus on Bangladesh -- Quantification of Flash Flood Runoff Volume Using Morphometric Parameters Towards Sustainability -- Application of the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA) in Reservoir Optimization Operation under Investigation of Climate Change Impact: A Case Study at Klang Gate Dam, Malaysia -- Development of Cleaner Production Alternatives in Water Management in a Slaughterhouse in Ecuador: A Case Study -- Analyzing the Impact of Food-Energy-Water Nexus-Based Agricultural Patterns on Regional Water Resources -- Categorization of Urban Basin According to The Runoff Depth: Case Study of Katsushika Ward and Edogawa City Basin, Japan -- ETSim: A Reference Evapotranspiration Estimator and Its Evaluation at the Southern Region of Japan -- Performance Evaluation of a Full-Scale Forced Aerated Municipal Solid Waste Composting System: A Case Study in Kalutara, Sri Lanka -- A Systematic Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Hazardous Solid Waste Management -- Pre-paid System for Waste Minimization and Cost Recovery - A Trial in Gaza Strip, Palestine -- Green Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Syzygium aromaticum and Thymus vulgaris Extracts against Some Oral Pathogens -- Institutional Pressure, Organizational Factors and E-Waste Management Practice: A Study in Telecommunication and Technology Industries -- Life Cycle Assessment of Sugarcane Biorefinery Complex in the Indian Context -- High-Performance Computing Urban Air Pollution 3D Simulation with CFD PALM4U -- Assessment and Policy Recommendations of School Ambient Air Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Particulate Matter Phytoremediation Capacity of Four Japanese Roadside Green Biofilters -- Resilience Assessment of Transportation Networks to Climate Change Induced Flooding: The Case of Doha Highways Network -- Achievements, Difficulties and Challenges of Managing and Adapting to Drought and Saltwater Intrusion in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta -- Public Transportation Resilience towards Climate Change Impacts: The Case of Doha Metro Network -- Social Vulnerability Assessment to Natural Hazards in East Malaysia -- Exploring the Significance of Resilience Qualities in the Context of the Middle East Built Environment -- Vegetation Coverage Assessment for Smart Cities Based on the Sentinel Remote Sensing Data: The Case of Zhejiang Province (China) -- Monitoring of Agricultural Expansion Using Hybrid Classification Method in Southwestern Fringes of Wadi El-Natrun, Egypt: An Appraisal for Sustainable Development -- Quantifying the Dynamics of Ecosystem Services Value in Response to Decentralization and Regional Autonomy in Indonesia: A Case Study of Southeast Sulawesi Province -- Assessment of Human Health Impact of Particulate Matter Formation from Industry Textile Boiler in Cambodia -- Assessment of Heavy Metals Uptake by Carrot at Different Contamination Levels of Soil -- The Economic Impact of California's Cap and Trade Program: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis with a Matching Approach -- Computing Digital Footprints: A New Model and Empirical Study -- Comparisons of Organic Acid and Inorganic Acid Pretreatment for Production of Reducing Sugar and Ethanol Production from Coffee Shell -- Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Passenger Railway Transport and Its Deployment in Saudi Arabia -- Deep Eutectic Solvent Pretreatment of Durian Peel for Enhanced Bioethanol Production. .

Natural resources such as land, air, and water lay a critical foundation for the sustainable development of an urban community. The Pearl River Delta (PRD) is one of the most developed and rapidly developing regions in China, with abundant natural resources in water, intertidal zones, aquatic products, and a significant coastal estuary habitat. The PRD also covers two Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong and Macao) and two Special Economic Zones (Shenzhen and Zhuhai), critically positioning it domestically and abroad. However, the increasing development of the economy has put pressure on the security of its water resources. These resources have sharply deteriorated in the PRD as the result of a mass and unordered overuse of water and soil resources and the lack of coordinated efforts among different functional departments. Various problems related to the water environment (such as flooding, rapid development of the deposition, water pollution, saltwater intrusion, and waterway atrophy) have directly threatened the social stability, sustainable development of the economy, and the supply of water in the region. To date, the population affected by a shortage of high-quality water has reached 16 million due to pollution of the water supply source in Guangdong province. At this time, the water pollution in the PRD has resulted in ever-increasing economic and environmental losses. Pollution coverage includes Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong and, because governmental functions and scientific technologies among these regions differ, there is little in the way of efficient, cooperative efforts to fully make use of their individual advantages to protect the water environment in the PRD. Moreover, the diversity and complexity of the problems even interfere with the abilities of functional departments within one region (e.g., flood prevention, pollution abatement, and channel maintenance) to make decisions and formulate protection policies using advanced spatial technologies such as remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). Consequently, the water environment in the PRD lacks unified and synergistic operations, and water resource protection is restricted to satisfying the demands of economic development and the requirements of sustainable development. To date, it is clear that cooperation amongst Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao should be strengthened. More research is also essential, specifically regarding the reduction of gross pollution emissions by 8 to 10 percent. In addition, the water environmental protection of the PRD has engaged with the Integrative Planning of the Environmental Protection in the PRD (2009-2020). This emphasizes strengthening the regional collaborative linkages, constructing an integrative platform of environmental monitoring, and realizing the shared and collaborative management of environmental information among different departments. With this in mind, the study on constructing a unified and synergistic system for water environment analysis in the PRD area are proposed as interdisciplinary and comprehensive research using multiple methods and fields. Based on the analysis of the fusion techniques of multisource, multi-date, and isomerous images, a database for integrating remote sensing monitoring data of water quality and quantity, actual measurement data, and relevant basic geographical data (watercourse data, section data, and a Digital Elevation Model) will be developed. Combining the research on general analytical methods and models, the capsulation mechanism of analytical methods and models will be designed. Lastly, using GIS integration techniques, an integrative monitoring demonstrative platform of water quality and quantity will be developed to assist collaborative research and decision making among the functional departments of the three regions. The goal is to promote the sustainable use of the water resources in the PRD, to achieve sustainable economic development and to increase the informatization of the PRD region. The construction of the system consists of four parts.

Natural resources such as land, air, and water lay a critical foundation for the sustainable development of an urban community. The Pearl River Delta (PRD) is one of the most developed and rapidly developing regions in China, with abundant natural resources in water, intertidal zones, aquatic products, and a significant coastal estuary habitat. The PRD also covers two Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong and Macao) and two Special Economic Zones (Shenzhen and Zhuhai), critically positioning it domestically and abroad. However, the increasing development of the economy has put pressure on the security of its water resources. These resources have sharply deteriorated in the PRD as the result of a mass and unordered overuse of water and soil resources and the lack of coordinated efforts among different functional departments. Various problems related to the water environment (such as flooding, rapid development of the deposition, water pollution, saltwater intrusion, and waterway atrophy) have directly threatened the social stability, sustainable development of the economy, and the supply of water in the region. To date, the population affected by a shortage of high-quality water has reached 16 million due to pollution of the water supply source in Guangdong province. At this time, the water pollution in the PRD has resulted in ever-increasing economic and environmental losses. Pollution coverage includes Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong and, because governmental functions and scientific technologies among these regions differ, there is little in the way of efficient, cooperative efforts to fully make use of their individual advantages to protect the water environment in the PRD. Moreover, the diversity and complexity of the problems even interfere with the abilities of functional departments within one region (e.g., flood prevention, pollution abatement, and channel maintenance) to make decisions and formulate protection policies using advanced spatial technologies such as remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). Consequently, the water environment in the PRD lacks unified and synergistic operations, and water resource protection is restricted to satisfying the demands of economic development and the requirements of sustainable development. To date, it is clear that cooperation amongst Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao should be strengthened. More research is also essential, specifically regarding the reduction of gross pollution emissions by 8 to 10 percent. In addition, the water environmental protection of the PRD has engaged with the Integrative Planning of the Environmental Protection in the PRD (2009-2020). This emphasizes strengthening the regional collaborative linkages, constructing an integrative platform of environmental monitoring, and realizing the shared and collaborative management of environmental information among different departments. With this in mind, the study on constructing a unified and synergistic system for water environment analysis in the PRD area are proposed as interdisciplinary and comprehensive research using multiple methods and fields. Based on the analysis of the fusion techniques of multisource, multi-date, and isomerous images, a database for integrating remote sensing monitoring data of water quality and quantity, actual measurement data, and relevant basic geographical data (watercourse data, section data, and a Digital Elevation Model) will be developed. Combining the research on general analytical methods and models, the capsulation mechanism of analytical methods and models will be designed. Lastly, using GIS integration techniques, an integrative monitoring demonstrative platform of water quality and quantity will be developed to assist collaborative research and decision making among the functional departments of the three regions. The goal is to promote the sustainable use of the water resources in the PRD, to achieve sustainable economic development and to increase the informatization of the PRD region. The construction of the system consists of four parts.

Natural resources such as land, air, and water lay a critical foundation for the sustainable development of an urban community. The Pearl River Delta (PRD) is one of the most developed and rapidly developing regions in China, with abundant natural resources in water, intertidal zones, aquatic products, and a significant coastal estuary habitat. The PRD also covers two Special Administrative Regions (Hong Kong and Macao) and two Special Economic Zones (Shenzhen and Zhuhai), critically positioning it domestically and abroad. However, the increasing development of the economy has put pressure on the security of its water resources. These resources have sharply deteriorated in the PRD as the result of a mass and unordered overuse of water and soil resources and the lack of coordinated efforts among different functional departments. Various problems related to the water environment (such as flooding, rapid development of the deposition, water pollution, saltwater intrusion, and waterway atrophy) have directly threatened the social stability, sustainable development of the economy, and the supply of water in the region. To date, the population affected by a shortage of high-quality water has reached 16 million due to pollution of the water supply source in Guangdong province. At this time, the water pollution in the PRD has resulted in ever-increasing economic and environmental losses. Pollution coverage includes Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong and, because governmental functions and scientific technologies among these regions differ, there is little in the way of efficient, cooperative efforts to fully make use of their individual advantages to protect the water environment in the PRD. Moreover, the diversity and complexity of the problems even interfere with the abilities of functional departments within one region (e.g., flood prevention, pollution abatement, and channel maintenance) to make decisions and formulate protection policies using advanced spatial technologies such as remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). Consequently, the water environment in the PRD lacks unified and synergistic operations, and water resource protection is restricted to satisfying the demands of economic development and the requirements of sustainable development. To date, it is clear that cooperation amongst Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao should be strengthened. More research is also essential, specifically regarding the reduction of gross pollution emissions by 8 to 10 percent. In addition, the water environmental protection of the PRD has engaged with the Integrative Planning of the Environmental Protection in the PRD (2009-2020). This emphasizes strengthening the regional collaborative linkages, constructing an integrative platform of environmental monitoring, and realizing the shared and collaborative management of environmental information among different departments. With this in mind, the study on constructing a unified and synergistic system for water environment analysis in the PRD area are proposed as interdisciplinary and comprehensive research using multiple methods and fields. Based on the analysis of the fusion techniques of multisource, multi-date, and isomerous images, a database for integrating remote sensing monitoring data of water quality and quantity, actual measurement data, and relevant basic geographical data (watercourse data, section data, and a Digital Elevation Model) will be developed. Combining the research on general analytical methods and models, the capsulation mechanism of analytical methods and models will be designed. Lastly, using GIS integration techniques, an integrative monitoring demonstrative platform of water quality and quantity will be developed to assist collaborative research and decision making among the functional departments of the three regions. The goal is to promote the sustainable use of the water resources in the PRD, to achieve sustainable economic development and to increase the informatization of the PRD region. The construction of the system consists of four parts.

1. General observations Africa south of the Sahara is probably the most vulnerable region when it comes to the impact and consequences of climate changes. Yet the African continent runs a serious risk of being marginalized in the global dialogue on climate issues. Africa contributes little to the global emissions of CO2, and other greenhouse gases. The major focus of the Framework Convention on Climate Change is on abatement and mitigation of emissions rather than adaptation to the consequences of climate change, and African states have therefore been slow to ratify the treaty and not as active in the international negotiation process as states from other parts of the world. Curbing emissions if justifiably not a central African concern. Yet Africa's potential vulnerability should demand attention from both African policy makers and other decision makers. Africa's natural resource base is seriously threatened. The two central guiding principles of African climate policy both on the part of governments and of international institutions should be reducing vulnerability on the one hand and increasing resilience on the other. Decision makers should not use the remaining scientific uncertainty and the acknowledged dearth of detailed information on African resource management as an excuse for inaction. Not taking climate change into account could be a serious source of mismanagement and fallacious planning. Both increase in temperature and increasing variability of climate are serious dangers in the future. Land degradation policies as well as future energy development should be central concerns. Any strategy for Africa should seek to minimize the potential conflicts among the concerns and priorities for development, adaptation and abatement. Africa's vulnerability to climatic changes relates to a number of factors, including 1) the dependency on bio-fuel, 2) the importance of agriculture, 3) immobility, 4) poor health services, 5) population growth, and 6) low material standards. In the case of Africa, it is difficult to make clear distinctions between abatement and adaptation measures. Social and economic development are necessary in order to prepare the continent for adaptation. 2. African obligations and opportunities under the Climate Convention Forty-nine African states have signed the Climate Convention, but only 33 have ratified so far (23.06.95). Ratification is important because- 1) it signifies the acceptance of the principles of the convention and 2) ratification will be required for financial support under the FCCC. The substantive obligation of all African Parties is a commitment to formulate a climate policy and how it could be implemented. Developing countries shall report on their inventories of GHG emissions, along with their plans and measures to meet the convention's objective within three years after the entry into force of the convention. Least-developed countries may report at their own discretion. Multilateral financing institutions should invest in data gathering on all levels to enhance awareness and improve the possibility for responsible governance in respect to natural resource management and environmental protection. Joint Implementation (JI) can allow for cost effective implementation of the Climate Convention, and provide funding for climate related projects for countries where financial resources are scarce or lacking. 3. Modeling of climate change in Africa There are still substantial limitations in the ability to provide accurate predictions of future climate in Africa. Confidence in regional model predictions is low and there are substantial differences between the models. One can distinguish between three regions when it comes to climatic changes in Africa: 1) Sahel region, 2) corresponding dry regions south of the Equator in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, etc., and 3) the tropical region centered around the Equator. Major findings from IPCC -90 and -92 of relevance for Africa Temperature. Expected increases in annual average surface temperature at the time of C02 doubling: Northern subtropical region (including Sahel): 2 degrees Celsisus (0.5-3.0 degrees Celsisus), Tropical region: 1.5 degrees Celsisus (0.5-2.5 degrees Celsisus), and Southern subtropical region: 2 degrees Celsisus (0.5-3.0 degrees Celsisus). Precipitation: Increase in surface temperature and increased radiative cooling of the atmosphere due to doubling of CO2, concentrations lead to increased evaporation at the surface and increased intensity of convective precipitation (e.g. thunderstorms from large cumulus towers). Sea level rise: Thermal expansion is regarded as the most important process. Predictions are a 20±10cm increase in sea level at the time of CO2, doubling. IPCC-90 estimates up to a 65cm increase in sea level in year 2100, but this number is likely to be decreased to 40~45cm in the new IPCC-95 report. Observed trends. Since 1895, annual average temperatures has increased by 0.53'C over continental Africa. The recent 25 year dry period in Sahel is the most substantial change in observed precipitation in the global record. Explanations have been sought in 1) land use changes, and 2) circulation changes caused by changing patterns of sea surface temperatures (SST). If the drought represents the first sign of a global warming remains however uncertain. Current anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGS) in Africa. 1) Carbon dioxide (CO2): The major source is land use change (~70); the rest originates mainly from industry and transportation. The African contribution of CO2, was in 1990 estimated to be about 7 0f the world's total. 2) Methane (CH4,): Emissions in Africa are about 7 0f the world's total, with livestock being the main source. Industrial sources are oil and gas production and coal mining. 3) Nitrous oxide (N2O) sources are mainly of natural origin. 3) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC): Africa's share of global CFC emissions is estimated at 3. 4. Natural resource management The uncertainties in predicting climate change impacts in Africa must be underlined, and other human or natural influences may mitigate or exacerbate the effects. Natural variability in Africa is also substantial, and people are to a large extent adapted to changes. Still, predicted human-induced climatic changes are expected to occur very rapidly, and little is known about the capability of the ecosystems - which forms the basis for human existence - to adapt to such changes. It is also clear that impacts of climate change will be unevenly distributed: groups with the highest present vulnerability, such as poor people and people living in marginal areas, will most likely suffer most. Generally, changes in the frequency of extreme weather events would probably have greater impact than changes in average conditions. Agricultural Resources. The fertilizing effect of enhanced CO2 level on plant growth is well documented in laboratory studies, but disputed when it comes to complex "real-world" systems. Other factors concerning climate change impacts on agriculture include 1) Warmer climate and changes in rainfall may reduce the appropriability of present crops. Already being a major problem today, loss of crop and livestock genetic resources may threaten sustainable agricultural development and adaptations to future changes. 2) Increased intensity of rainfall may increase soil erosion, nutrient leaching and crop damage, 3) Changes in timing and length of growing seasons may lead to planning problems, 4) Loss of rainfall in marginal and vulnerable areas would exacerbate drought and desiccation problems, increase risks for bushfire and put forests at their dry margins at risk, and increase problems in animal husbandry, 5) Some models predict a noticeable loss of food production in Africa, but regional variations would probably be large, and local differences (such as in cropping systems) will to a large extent determine how significant the climate change impacts will be. 6) Sea level rise will put low lying agricultural areas at risk, and may render major rivers unsuitable for irrigation. Fish resources. Fish make up a significant part of the food supply in Africa, with a total harvest potential estimated at 10.5 million tons. It is expected that global warming will, varying with species, relocate fish populations. Freshwater populations in small rivers and lakes are vulnerable due to restricted ability to move in response to changes. In areas becoming drier, loss of habitat would also represent a threat. Fish populations are generally very sensitive to even small changes in frequency of extreme events. For the more mobile marine fish populations, relocation does not necessarily mean that production and potential yields are lowered, but subsistence and small scale-fishermen may suffer if institutional arrangements do not enable them to move within regions and across boundaries. Biodiversity. Impacts on biological diversity should be of particular concern, as the welfare of human beings strongly depends on the existence of biological systems and processes. Biological diversity provides a wide range of goods and services, including a genetic basis for agricultural development, and represents a heritage of unique species and ecosystems. Species will probably respond differentially to climatic changes, leading to new aggregations and ecosystems. In ecological terms, the predicted changes will occur over a short period of time. Migration is expected to be the main adaptation strategy, and adaptation success will be determined by the species' ability to respond quickly enough, as well as the suitability of the migration routes: Migration may be blocked by natural or human imposed barriers, or the natural environment (e.g. soils) may be inappropriate. A large part of the natural bio-diversity in Africa is confined to isolated reserves surrounded by agricultural land. Small populations are particularly vulnerable, and endemic species will be at risk of extinction. The changes would on the other hand favor species with high dispersal rates, ability to colonize a wide range of habitats and a high tolerance towards stress. Water resources. Past droughts have shown that for marginal and vulnerable areas, even a small reduction in water supply is critical. Water scarcity has substantial health and ecological consequences. Even today, there is growing scarcity of water in many African regions, and several countries rely on water originating outside their borders. Sea level rises can be expected to lead to increased saltwater intrusion in the groundwater. Desalinization is too costly for most countries. Hydro power generation is also vulnerable to temperature increases and rainfall changes. Social, political and economic impacts. Many authors mention the risk of getting more "eco-refugees". In addition to the social and health problems they may create, major migrations would also increase political tensions. Economic impacts include costs of climate-caused damages and costs of adapting to climate changes. In low-lying areas, sea level rise may cause substantial losses of land for human habitation, which in river deltas and urban centers will be aggravated by subsidence caused by extraction of water and hydrocarbons. 5. African priorities African policy statements emphasize that contributions to Climate Change mitigation efforts should not adversely affect their development targets. Few African countries have national policies explicitly aimed at combating climate change impacts, as they are not required to develop such plans until 1997. African policies are expected to concentrate on combating vulnerability. More specifically, this involves capacity building in a number of areas, including formulation of national and regional inventories and programs, development of effective negotiation skills, developing research capabilities, conducting cost-benefit analyses, and capacity building in the area of technology assessment and transfer. Improvement in planning capacity and governance would improve Africa's resilience to eventual climate changes. Future energy scenarios. African countries should get support in taking advantage of new technology for alternative energy resources, where no-regret options should be given priority. It should be underlined that effective mitigation measures against global warming must reinforce national economic policies and enhance the welfare of households. Three different energy scenarios for Africa are discussed: 1) Stagnation, 2) Growth based on fossil fuels, and 3) Sustainable growth. Scenario 1 is characterized by slow economic development and rapid population growth. Scenarios 2 and 3 involve high social and economic development and falling fertility rates. Scenario 2 is a fossilfuels based development, while scenario 3 provides large scale use of alternative energy sources and sustainable economic development. Economic development and improved living standards, especially among women, are necessary to reduce population growth. Abatement measures. Abatement measures may be carried out as part of a development strategy. Such no-regret options may however need additional funding to be carried out, since market failures and national constraints to the economy may make such options too costly for African governments. One should focus on measures with limited impacts on activities "outside" the market economy. The concern for climate change could make the support of new technology in Africa more attractive, but one should be aware that this may bias the countries' preferences for projects.

In the past decade, Tanzania has experienced high economic growth and it is in the global limelight as a recent success story in Africa. A variety of factors have contributed to this success, including liberalized policies and reforms, infusion of external capital from development partners and the private sector, debt cancellation, and a strong performance by emerging sectors such as mining, tourism, and fisheries. Its social policies, largely influenced by the First President Julius Kambarage Nyerere, including a single national language and relative political stability have contributed to a strong sense of nationhood, which sets it apart from many of its neighbors and has provided an unusual degree of stability that has facilitated major economic transformation without a significant social backlash.

Weather is the term used to describe the atmospheric conditions (heat, wetness, wind, etc.) prevailing at any one place and time. Climate is the sum of the prevailing weather conditions of a given place over a period of time, typically summed over many decades. This paper seeks to provide strategic directions for mainstreaming support for climate change within the World Bank's broader program of assistance to Vietnam. It does so by reviewing the current understanding of climate change in Vietnam and likely impacts, outlining principles to guide the Bank's engagement in this field, and applying these principles across a range of sectors, taking into account both near- and longer-term considerations. The report identifies elements of the Bank's current and planned portfolio of projects and analytical work that are contributing or will contribute to improved knowledge, planning, and actions, and it points to additional areas where new or more work seems warranted. The report represents a first iteration of a strategy for supporting Vietnam in managing the challenges posed by climate change. As more experience is gathered and as our understanding of both the science and the economics of climate change impacts in Vietnam improves, this strategy will need to be revisited and refined. While the process of climate change is expected to be a long-term phenomenon-with predictions for considerable changes through the second half of the twenty-first century, the focus of this report is on decisions and priorities that should govern the Bank's assistance during this decade. Given an array of uncertainties, extending the developing assistance planning vision much beyond 2020 is not practical. This time frame also corresponds to the government of Vietnam's own planning horizon.