Conservationists warn the plans could jeopardize the forest complex’s World Heritage status, which is due for review this July.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Pou Sothirak on protecting the Mekong and powering Cambodia
Cambodian academic and former politician Pou Sothirak talks about conservation, safeguarding the Mekong and Cambodia’s potential to transition to solar energy
Carbon markets preserve forests while providing community funds
Communities in natural protected areas in Preah Vihear province have been demonstrating their commitment to conserving forests with the help of forest rangers from the Ministry of Environment and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS Cambodia).
World Bank Group launches Offshore Wind Roadmap for Vietnam
The roadmap analyses two possible growth scenarios for Vietnam’s offshore wind industry. The ‘low growth’ scenario with moderate expansion of offshore wind, resulting in offshore wind supplying 5% of Vietnam’s electricity needs by 2035. The ‘high growth’ scenario has significant expansion of offshore wind, resulting in offshore wind supplying 12% of Vietnam’s electricity needs by 2035.
Danish energy leaders welcome Vietnamese partnership
The Minister continued by saying that the Vietnamese-Danish partnership on green areas started in 2013 and that the two nations have shared knowledge and are carrying their efforts on long-term energy planning, integration of renewable energy in the electricity system, and energy efficiency in the industrial sector together.
Crackdown on illegal gold mining to be stepped up
While encouraging highly qualified technical mineral manufacturing for lasting and environment-friendly mineralisation, he reminded that underqualified operations will not bring about any benefit, but are likely to cause accidents and harm the environment.
Cleaning up our act
Asean makes a new push to deal with its world-beating marine plastic waste problem. By Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata in Jakarta
Hopes dashed for Kampong Cham fishermen as conservation lake dries
The hopes of fishermen living around the six lakes in the district have been dashed as the conservation lake has dried up this year before the Mekong River fills it with water.
Coal-fired power plant in Myanmar backed by China that villagers feel powerless to oppose
There have been continued reports of miscarriages, cancers and other serious diseases. The plant is emitting more mercury than acceptable by international standards, mostly due to a lack of proper filtering
Laotians still affected by wartime use of Agent Orange, study finds
The survey found that 500 people in Laos under 50 years of age have congenital disabilities that may be associated with their parents’ or grandparents’ exposure to toxic herbicides during the war.