Search

10 Nov 2020 GENEVA, Switzerland

The Harmful Environmental Impacts Of War

A new, jointly-produced report from a diverse group of organisations working on human rights, peacebuilding and environmental issues has been launched to demonstrate the breadth and complexity of conflict-linked environmental harm.Case studies from Iraq, Syria, Colombia, Yemen, Ukraine, Laos DPR and Senegal direct attention to the environment in relation to armed conflict...

11 Aug 2020 VIENTIANE, Laos

Mekong River Commission Warns Of Continuing Low Flow, Potential Impacts

A newly released Situation Report from the Mekong River Commission (MRC) calls for improved data sharing among the riparian nations. “We call on the six Mekong countries to increase data and information sharing on their dam and water infrastructure operations in a transparent and speedy manner with the MRC...

26 Mar 2020 PHNOM PENH, Cambodia

Cambodia Announces Ten Year Moratorium On New Mekong Dams

The government of Cambodia has announced that the country will not develop new hydropower dams on the Mekong River for the next 10 years, putting two planned dams at Sambor and Stung Treng on pause. The decision means that Laos, which has opened two new dams in the past six months, is now the only country on the Lower Mekong Basin that is planning hydropower on the river...

15 Mar 2020 HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam

Vietnam Drought: State Of Emergency Declared In Five Mekong Delta Provinces

The government of Vietnam declared a state of emergency last week in five Mekong Delta provinces in response to prolonged drought which has led to a build-up of salinity, threatening yields of rice and fruit in the region.Increased salinity is spreading throughout the Mekong Delta, as water flows from the Mekong River are about 20 percent less than in 2016, which is the most recent crisis year...

11 Feb 2020 LUANG PRABANG, Laos

Mekong Neighbours Challenge Laos Over Luang Prabang Dam Data

The government of Laos has been challenged by neighbouring countries and NGOs about provision of data around environmental assessmnet of the Luang Prabang dam in the lower Mekong.At a 6 February consultation meeting on the proposed 1,460 megawatt dam stakeholders raised concerns and suggested further in-depth studies to evaluate the potential transboundary environmental and social impacts and explore possible mitigation measures that could be taken...

4 Aug 2019 PHNOM PENH, Cambodia

US Secretary Of State Wades Into Mekong

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has criticized China's dam-building programme on the Mekong River, saying that construction has left the crucial waterway at its lowest level in a decade in Southeast Asian countries downstream, warning of "troubling trends". The Mekong River Commission has said that river levels in June and July had dropped to “among the lowest on record”...

22 Jul 2019 BANGKOK, Thailand

Thailand Authorities Address Historically Low Mekong Water Levels

Thailand's Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has admitted that the Thai government can not directly mitigate the recent drop in Mekong River water levels, but looked to the resumption of upstream dam discharge to replenish water levels "soon".Somkiat Prajumwong, secretary general of the agencysaid July 19 that the agency sent a letter asking the Laos government to suspend the trial of the Xayaburi Dam for a few days...

Premium

13 Jul 2019 ROME, Italy

UNFAO: Conflict And Climate Conditions Continue To Exacerbate Food Insecurity

Variable climate conditions and persistent conflicts contine to cause high levels of food insecurity in 41 countries, with 31 of these in Africa, UNFAO has reported. The Crop Prospects and Food Situation report issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization July 4, relates that these countries continue to be in food deficit and in need of external assistance, a situation that has not changed in three months...

3 Jun 2019 VIENTIANE, Laos

China Food And Land Grab Alleged After 2018 Laos Dam Collapse

A compensation plan following a 2018 dam collapse in southern Laos is causing local concern, with some making assusations of a China food-land grab.Last July a dam at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy (PNPC) hydropower project collapsed, causing regional flooding across 12 villages and killing about 50 people. To compensate villagers, the government of Laos promised and cleared a 2,000 hectare plot for the victims of the disaster so that they could grow crops...

Premium

3 Jun 2019 WASHINGTON DC, United States

$40 Million USD World Bank Support For Laos Green Growth

The World Bank has announced approval of $40 Million USD credit under the Second Programmatic Green Growth Development Policy for Laos. The purpose is to support reform in the fiscal sector, to develop financial sustainability, and to incorporate green growth principles into development planning in support of Laos’ transition to a more sustainable growth model, the World Bank said May 28...

Premium

27 Apr 2019 MANDALAY, Myanmar

More Drought Years Face Southeast Asia

Frequent drought occurences will intensify in Southeast Asia if actions are not taken now, a new study reports.Joint research from United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) assessed climate risk and its effects in South-East Asia and offers three priority areas of intervention to improve the region’s resilience to increasing incidents of drought...

Premium

27 Apr 2019 VUAN TAU CITY, Viet Nam

Mekong River Commission Declares New Commitment To Flood, Drought Management

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) this week announced new measures to address regional flood and drought conditions and set new internal operation and control policies.Of significance is the integration of drought monitoring and management into the current flood forecasting framework, a move that is reflected in the center’s new name: Regional Flood and Drought Management Center (RFDMC)...

Premium