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Project Data Sheet

Project Name: ReTrEAT-Cities: Resettlement, Transformation, and Eco-Adaptation Typology for Cities (and Communities) amidst rising seas in the Lower Mekong

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Project Type: The Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network Program (MTT) under Flagship Research Studies

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Project Duration: 1.5 Years (1 Feb 24 – 31 July 2025)

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Geographical Coverage:

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Thailand - Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkhram district (Bangkok), and Chanthaburi province, Pak Phanang District

Cambodia – Kampot province, Koh Kong Province, Preah Sihanouk Province

Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City, Minh Hai and Vung Tau Province

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Source of Funding: Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)


Sector: Sea level rise, Water-Energy-Climate Nexus, Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Resettlement, Transformation, and Eco-Adaptation Typology for Cities


Project Description: Research indicates that sea-level rise (SLR) could lead to 410 million climate migrants by 2050. Acknowledging the limitations of traditional coastal hazard management methods, such as engineering defenses like seawalls and groynes, the retreat concept has gained traction. These methods can be counterproductive, leading to increased flooding and erosion while often incurring significant financial costs. Managed retreat, a non-structural alternative, provides co-benefits such as enhanced biodiversity, cost-effectiveness, tourism advantages, and valuable ecosystem services. Nevertheless, it also presents complex social, economic, and cultural challenges, along with procedural environmental injustices. The primary research question is: How can vulnerable coastal communities and infrastructure in the Lower Mekong Countries effectively adapt to sea-level rise and climate change through energy-neutral, participatory coastal retreat planning while addressing issues of justice? To address this, the project proposes a novel framework and strategies for more inclusive and effective bottom-up coastal retreat planning by empowering communities to create and implement participatory retreat plans.

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Project Purpose: In response, our project will design programs that empower vulnerable coastal communities to create and implement novel ‘participatory energy-neutral coastal retreat planning’ focusing on ReTrEAT (Resettlement, Transformation, Eco-Adaptation Typology), prioritizing community empowerment and indigenous knowledge, setting it apart from traditional top-down policies. Therefore, the project aims ‘to develop an evidence-based understanding of the impacts of sea level rise on transformative, practical, robust, and equitable policy solutions for city infrastructure and community risk in the Lower Mekong region, within the context of the Water-Energy-Climate Nexus.’


Project methodology and design: Work packages (WPs) are systematically developed based on project deliverables. Partners in each country will participate in every deliverable, prioritizing their respective countries' needs through participatory budgeting with inclusive, scenario-based, and equitable bottom-up approaches that engage local communities, individuals, and grassroots organizations in the decision-making process.

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Figure 2: Research design for participatory energy-neutral coastal retreat planning towards retrofitting infrastructures and communities amidst rising sea level rise in Mekong countries in view of water-energy and climate nexus

WP1: (Deliverable 1) Baseline and projected SLR scenarios: We will conduct trend analysis using satellite altimetry and tide gauge records while excluding land subsidence data from LiDAR. To project future scenarios, we will perform downscaling and bias correction based on the shared socio-economic pathways (SSP 5&2,4.5, 8.5) of the IPCC Sixth Assessment.


WP2: (Deliverable 2) Exposure analysis under SLR scenarios: Identify high-risk zones and exposure to critical infrastructure and vulnerable communities using high-resolution satellite images 


WP3: (deliverable 3) GEDSI plan for project lifespan and GEDSI scoping report: This GEDSI plan and analysis deepens, sharpens, and corrects assumptions and knowledge relating to marginalized groups and overall power relations, risks, and opportunities for the project. The insights strengthen the problems, questions, goals, and groups of interest as well as systematic design and implementation, integrating gender and power.


WP4: (Deliverable 4) Community Engagement using crowdsourcing/citizen science: Engage stakeholders, including local communities, government, NGOs, and experts through structured surveys, discussions, interviews, and crowdsourcing/citizen science to assess coastal retreat planning perceptions, needs, and preferences.


WP5: (Deliverable 5) Participatory Workshops for Indigenous Knowledge: Facilitate participatory workshops to harness indigenous knowledge, gather community insights, and engage in decision-making, scenario planning, and retreat strategy development.


WP6: (Deliverable 6) Participatory Scenario mapping: By integrating GIS and participatory scenario data to create vulnerability maps, hazard maps, and community asset maps, incorporating feedback and data gathered from local communities.


WP7: (Deliverable 7) Design Sustainable Retreat scenario and Strategy development: Collaborate with stakeholders to co-create sustainable coastal retreat strategies, prioritizing community and infrastructure resilience while addressing complex ecological, social, and economic dimensions.


WP8: (Deliverable 8) Indicator Development and Assessment: Define indicators for success and impact in social, economic, and ecological dimensions. Consistently assess strategy effectiveness, gather community feedback, and adapt as required.


WP9: (Deliverable 9) Policy Recommendation and Dissemination: Examine policy gaps in sea level and climate adaptation, coastal management, and community engagement. Develop recommendations for local and regional governments to bolster participatory coastal retreat initiatives.

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Expected Output: The following research outputs and communication products can be expected by the end of the project for disseminating knowledge, raising awareness, and mainstreaming inclusive participatory energy-neutral coastal retreat planning and practices.

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  • A report on flagship research studies

  • A blog post for participatory coastal retreat planning for sea level rise emergencies.

  • A policy brief on coastal retreat planning under SLR scenarios

  • A photo-story book related to participatory coastal retreat planning to sea level rise for the SEI website, soon after the field visit or stakeholder’s workshop/PhotoScape

  • At least three peer-reviewed journal articles


 

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