Figures supplied to The Third Pole by the Ministry of Mines and Energy indicate that the sand mining craze in Cambodia has only just begun. The extraction rate from the Mekong and Bassac rivers rose from 6 million cubic metres in 2019 to 10 million – the equivalent of 4,000 olympic size swimming pools – in the first quarter of this year.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Myanmar Junta Weaponizing Aid
is no surprise to anybody. It is just one more crime against humanity committed by the regime, which has already committed a long list of genocidal actions, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Strengthening climate resilience through better flood management
Under the moderate and severe climate change scenarios, the transboundary flood losses will be 2 to 6 times greater in the Ganga-Brahmaputra and Meghna basin; 1.5 to 5 times in the Indus basin: 1.2 to 2 times in the Mekong basin; and 1.1 to 1.5 times in the Amur basin.
Bad news for the Mekong Delta
What is of particular interest in the research that has been pursued for more than a decade is the conclusion that to date climate change is responsible for only about five per cent of the delta’s current problems. Rather, it argues that until now the chief culprits are the dams that have been built on the Mekong’s mainstream in China and Laos—11 in China and two so far in Laos—plus the upwards of 300 dams that have been constructed on the tributaries that flow into the Mekong.
Ethnic communities in Myanmar opposing a coal plant see their fight get harder
In Myanmar’s ethnic areas, Indigenous people have faced the loss of their lands, community forests, and deteriorating health conditions.
Thai tiger population grows
Thailand has at least 177 Indochinese tigers roaming in the wild this year, an increase of 17 from last year, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).
Opinion: Why Vietnam shouldn’t rush into offshore wind auctions
Of particular note, and a key aspect of the GWEC report published last week (22 July), is the concept of a transition to an auction. Markets have seen most success by adopting an upfront policy mechanism that provides stability and guarantees for a set of “frontrunner” offshore wind projects — typically in the order of 3-5GW.
Germany pledges $170 mln for sustainable growth in Vietnam
The focus for the two countries’ relations for the next two years would be climate protection, economic integration, climate change adaptation and biodiversity protection.
Vultures return to sanctuary after five-year absence
WWF-Cambodia’s biodiversity research and monitoring manager Milou Groenenberg said the birds had disappeared from the area due to poisoning.
Can China’s Belt and Road open up landlocked Laos?
It is estimated the railway will cut the cost of transport by 40% compared to travel by road, albeit at a total project cost of US $5.9 billion.