Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Water conflicts worldwide threaten peace
China is not alone in trying to control Mekong. Laos also plans a dam to generate power for sale to Thailand. Vietnam, where the Mekong flows into the South China Sea, is against the project, but Laos is not budging.
Experts slam tourism overexploitation plan for Vietnam national park
Experts have slammed a resort planned by a US company in the Bach Ma National Park, saying it will destroy and pollute the environment.
Creating the virtuous circle
A sustainable economic model based on recycling, remanufacturing and reuse is gaining adherents around the globe and in Thailand.
Thailand to ban foreign plastic waste from 2021
Needs two years to implement the ban as some recently granted import licences ran until 2021, and time to set up an efficient system for sorting its own plastic waste, which was more expensive to process.
Measures imposed to control public debt
The provision of the law is seen as an effort to end the chronic problem in which many state departments have previously carried out various state development projects without approval from the parliament and the government.
Govt to spend more on health, education; but funds for agri lacking
Although 70pc of Myanmar’s population relies on income from agriculture, the government is planning to spend just 4pc of the budget on the sector in 2018-19.
Wind power in Cambodia is possible, says regional power producer
The company has already begun work on a wind farm in Ninh Thuan province in South Vietnam – one of the largest in the region – and has its sights set on creating a similar farm in Cambodia
Project helps improve urban planning in Mekong cities
With a total ODA and preferential loans worth US$240 million, the project aims to improve access to infrastructure in priority city areas and improve urban planning in participating cities.
Japan strengthens its Mekong ties
Japan has one more disadvantage in dealing with Mekong River countries: None of them are strong democracies and their governments instinctively lean toward Beijing on questions of governance and human rights.