Mitigating climate risk in the Mekong Delta: insights from a large-scale communication field study in Vietnam

Abstract

ABSTRACT Women in developing countries are disproportionately vulnerable to climate risks. The perception of these risks – which can vary by gender – shapes how people decide to adapt, which in turn drives how these risks are realised as impacts and consequences. This paper examines: (1) the differences of perception between women and men about climate risks; (2) if these differences can be explained by a variety of socio-economic factors; and (3) whether the gendered perception gap could be eliminated by a targeted communication intervention that informed participants about long-term climate risks in the region and was delivered by a local news weather anchor. We examined these questions through pre- and post-intervention surveys with 724 inhabitants of peri urban Can Tho, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Results show that women were less familiar with climate risks in their community. The gendered perception gap was partially attributed to differences in education, livelihoods, and access to information. This gap was partially eliminated after the communication intervention, which suggests that a targeted communication intervention can enhance capacity to adapt to climate risks. This research provides valuable insights for climate communicators, especially for those working with non-WIERD populations, and can support adaptability for vulnerable populations.