Cities are both drivers of global warming and especially affected by its impacts. The need for coupled climate change mitigation and adaptation measures and hence strengthened resilience is becoming essential for urban planning. In this context, nature-based solutions (NBS) are becoming essential for urban and regional planning. Nature-based solutions have the potential to tackle social and environmental challenges. It also includes the expansion and improvement of green-blue infrastructure (GBI) – a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas. 

Vietnam is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and undergoing a very rapid urbanization process with a rate of 3.4% per year. It is also one of the vulnerable countries most affected by climate change. Central Việt Nam and its cities such as Huế are particularly affected by storms, typhoons, heavy rainfall, and extreme heatwaves. Due to the outstanding historical and tourist importance of the city of Huế, it belongs to the category “Top 1 – Top Priority City” of the Vietnamese government and is thus a model for more than 65 other provincial capitals. These factors, as well as similar administrative structures and high exposure to climate change effects, make Huế an ideal location for an Urban Learning Lab, from which proven approaches and concepts can be transferred to other provincial cities.

Objectives
The “Green City Lab Huế” has the objective to create a multi-level, multi-disciplinary space for research and experimentation to develop, visualize, evaluate and discuss ideas and concepts for the (re-)creation and expansion of green-blue infrastructure (GBI) in the city of Huế, Central Vietnam. In cooperation with stakeholders from science, administration, politics, and the civil society, and under consideration of existing urban development plans, the project consortium will develop shared expertise, common concepts, and a database to facilitate the coordinated, strategic development of a network of (semi-)natural areas across the city of Huế. Integrating nature-based solutions and GBI into Huế’s city planning may help to protect various ecosystem services, thereby increasing the social and ecological resilience of the city of Huế and its hinterland, e.g., regarding climate change impacts.

Definition phase (01.07.2019 – 31.03.2021)
The project analyzed expected challenges in the context of climate change, the current status of NBS and GBI in the city, and the socio-economic, legal, and political framework for their implementation. Additionally, first drafts of possible scenarios for the future development of NBS and GBI were discussed with relevant stakeholders and citizens. The project has also identified sites for preferred future NBS and GBI developments. The final report of the definition phase is available here. 

Research & Development phase (01.04.2021 – 31.03.2025)
The project will evolve, specify scenarios, develop a comprehensive city-wide action plan, implement the first exemplary interventions for testing and illustrative purposes. 

The project will use the urban learning lab (ULL) approach by initiating co-learning and co-creation processes to build a common vision for a greener, smarter, and more livable urban development in the city of Huế and its surrounding province.

Implementation phase (starting in 2025)
In this phase, the project will implement and put into effect the selected proposals from the action plan.