Conserve water or drown in the consequences: Sustaining the sinking Mekong delta

The Mekong delta is home to 18 million people, crucial for global food security but sinking rapidly. This project aims to turn the tide against this existential threat by examining the fundamental root causes and translate science to policy. Unsustainable groundwater extraction is causing the delta to lose elevation up to ten times faster than sea-level rises and, if not mitigated, large parts of the delta will fall below sea level already within decades. The total impact of human-induced groundwater extraction on sinking of the Mekong delta is not fully recognized by policymakers, in part because specific scientific knowledge is lacking. This project develops new capabilities in a state-of-the-art computer model to expand scientific understanding by improving quantifications of sinking caused by unrestricted groundwater extraction. The findings are translated into understandable and policy-oriented documents and relevant policymakers are directly engaged to develop effective governance strategies aimed to reduce delta sinking.