Laos and China Push Ahead with Sixth Mekong River Dam Project

“China has funded numerous hydropower projects inside Laos, and it has built 11 dams on the upper reaches of the Mekong River”

Laos in partnership with China has submitted plans to to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to build yet another new hydropower dam on the Mekong River. Construction is expected to start later this year, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) said on Monday.

The Sanakham dam hydropower plant, with an estimated cost of US$2.073 billion, will be developed by Datang Sanakham Hydropower company, a subsidiary of China’s state owned Datang International Power Generation Co, MRC said.

Hydropower development is central to the Laos government’s plan to export around 20,000 megawatts of electricity to its neighbours by 2030. This latest project will be the sixth proposal of nine planned mainstream Mekong dams inside Laos.

Sanakham dam will be the sixth of nine dams in Laos on the Mekong River

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Laos has already completed two dams on the Mekong River. The 1,285-megawatt Xayaburi Dam and the 260-megawatt Don Sahong Dam last year. The dams were built despite objections by environmental groups worldwide.

Objectors said the dams threaten a river system whose fisheries, sediment and seasonal flooding for agriculture support some 60 million people.

Sanakham’s proposed site is located 155 kilometres north of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Its projected to produce 684 megawatts of electricity once it start operating in 2028.

China has funded numerous hydropower projects inside Laos on the Mekong

The Sanakham dam is the sixth project that has been put forward to the prior consultation process with the MRC. The MRC intergovernmental agency that works with regional governments.

China has funded numerous hydropower projects inside Laos, and it has built 11 dams on the upper reaches of the Mekong River inside Chinese territory that have come under scrutiny for allegedly altering the river’s natural flow.

The Sanakham project will now have to go through an MRC prior consultation process, which normally lasts for six months, where other MRC members including Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam can review the project and assess any cross-border impacts. While they can suggest changes, the MRC consultation process cannot veto any project.

Source - Chiang Rai Times / Reuters

15 years on, over 300 tsunami victims from Thailand’s coast still unidentified

Fifteen years after the Indian Ocean tsunami killed upwards of 230,000 people on December 26, 2004, a container at the Takua Pa police station in Phang Nga, southern Thailand, still contains personal items from the hundreds of victims whose remains are unlikely to ever be given a name.

Wallets, documents, keys, electronic items, all labeled and catalogued as evidence, await positive identification. Nearby a graveyard contains 340 bodies buried in unmarked graves but police hope that, if people came forward to identify some of the items, there is still hope that some of the bodies could rest in peace with a name attached.

Colonel Khemmarin Hassini is the deputy police commander in Takua Pa district. The area, taking in the coastal tourist resort of Khao Lak, was one of the areas hardest hit by the Boxing Day tsunami. The shallow approach and low-rise of the beach landscape allowed the waves to hit with speed and continue up to a kilometre inland.

“There are still more relatives of the victims, both near and far, that have hopes of finding their lost loved ones.”

The tsunami was triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake just before 8am (Thai time). But the killer waves didn’t reach the Thai coastline until about 2 hours later.

Around the Indian Ocean, the tsunami killed more than 230,000 people as waves as high as 17 metres crashed hit the shores of more than a dozen countries around the ocean’s perimeter.

More than 5,000 people died in Thailand. The Disaster Victim Identification unit involving police and an international force of forensic experts were able to identify more than 3,600 bodies. It took nearly two years but it was the largest and most successful project of identification of its kind.

Colonel Khemmarin hopes, even though nearly 15 years have past, there was still a hope they could re-activate many of the lead and put names to some of the identified bodies. The Colonel was part of the international forensics team and fears that many of the possible leads have gone cold in the time that has passed.

Speaking to Reuters in the Takua Pa place station he said… “If we are determined enough and reactivate our operations once again, I think some of the 340 unidentified bodies could be identified.”

In ten days it will be the fifteenth anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, one of the deadliest natural disasters in the last 100 years. Poom Jensen, the grandson of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and a nephew of the current Thai King, was killed whilst his family was holidaying at Khao Lak.

Source - Reuters / TheThaiger

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#Thailand - Thousands to be hit by Kaeng Krachan overspill

FLOODING INEVITABLE AS DISCHARGE SWEEPS ACROSS AREAS ALONG PHETCHABURI RIVER

COMMUNITIES IN Phetchaburi’s Muang district are expected to be flooded for about two weeks after run-off from the overwhelmed Kaeng Krachan Dam hit the area last night.

 The dam was discharging between 200 and 250 cubic metres of water per second, as of press time yesterday. The Phetchaburi River, which runs into the Muang district at the heart of Phetchaburi, can hold about 150 cubic metres of water per second. 

“Although we must discharge water from the dam, we are trying to reduce the volume that will go into the river by diverting some 55 cubic metres of runoff to a canal and irrigation systems,” Royal Irrigation Department’s director-general Thongplew Kongjun said. 

 Regardless of their efforts, it would be inevitable that thousands of people in communities in low-lying zones along the Phetchaburi River would face flooding, he said. 

He estimated the floodwater level would be about 50 centimetres. 

 Water volume in the Kaeng Krachan National Park, in the upper part of Phetchaburi province, has already exceeded its holding capacity. 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to inspect water discharge at the dam today. 

“Natural disasters are unavoidable but the government will try to minimise adverse impacts,” he said. 

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Grisada Boonrach yesterday said that good preparations had been made to minimise the impact on people living in Phetchaburi’s town. 

“We have even diverted some water into empty farmland along the way. By doing this, the runoff will be reduced. It will also be slower for the runoff to reach the town, giving residents there enough time to move their belongings,” he said. 

Prayut emphasised that people living downstream must move their belongings to higher ground and evacuate if floodwaters continued to rise. 

The weather bureau has forecast increased rainfall and heavier downpours in various parts of Thailand until tomorrow. 

Landslides and flood warnings were issued for 35 provinces. 

Apart from Phetchaburi, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaew, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phang Nga and Phuket are also at risk. 

Grisada said if it rained, the water volume going to the Phetchaburi River might be up to 300 cubic metres per second. 

“That means Phetchaburi town may succumb to floods. [However] with current preparations, flooding should not be as widespread as last year,” he said. 

The Royal Irrigation Department has been closely monitoring water levels at large and medium-size reservoirs across the country. 

As of yesterday, water volume at two large dams – Nam Oun in Sakhon Nakhon province and Kaeng Krachan in Phetchaburi – exceeded their capacity. 

About 21 medium-size dams were also overwhelmed, most of them in the Northeast. 

Kanchanaburi Governor Jirakiat Bhumisawasdi yesterday warned people downstream of three local dams – the Srinakharin, Vajiralongkorn and Mae Klong – to be aware of the overflowing river. 

The Srinakharin Dam has now discharged 20 million cubic metres of water, the Vajiralongkorn Dam 43 million cubic metres of water, and the Mae Klong Dam 60 million cubic metres of water. 

“We have noticed that water levels in downstream zones has risen by between 30 and 40 centimeters,” Jirakiat said. 

He said local authorities are preparing flood relief and rescue operations. 

A landslide already hit Mae Hong Son province yesterday morning, with a local road blocked by large rocks. 

Sop Moei district chief Pha-ob Binsa-ard said local officials were trying to clear the blockage with heavy machinery.

Source - TheNation

 

 

#Thailand - Weather warnings issued as heavy rains threaten Phetchaburi dams

Heavy rains have battered Thailand’s West, North and Northeast over the past few weeks, causing dams to fill up early in the annual wet season, threatening to flood downstream areas.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) said that from today until Thursday, “a monsoonal trough will lie across the upper North and upper Northeast while the southwest monsoon will strengthen across the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Outbreaks of more rain, as well as isolated heavy downpours will be expected.”

Meanwhile heavy rains are causing problems a lot further South, with residents in low-lying parts of Phetchaburi province being warned to brace for flash floods with the local Kaeng Krachan dam expected to reach maximum capacity on Sunday.

Heavy rainfall has hit Phetchaburi and nearby provinces over recent days causing huge amounts of water to flow into the dam. The dam was reported to be at 97 per cent capacity as of Saturday evening with water starting to flow into the spillways, threatening downstream villages.

Further south, the TMD is warning of strong winds and two to four-metre high waves in the Andaman Sea and two to three-metre high waves in the upper Gulf of Thailand.

“Ships should proceed with caution, and small boats should stay ashore. People along the coast of the western South and the East should beware of strong winds,” the TMD warned.

The forecast says that scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rain will persist until Friday. From Phuket northwards, there will be southwesterly winds of between 20 to 45 kilometres per hour, waves two to four metres high and above four metres high in areas getting thundershowers. 

 People in western provinces urged to move to higher ground as more water to be released from reservoirs.

MANY dams in the western region are rapidly filling up due to heavy downpours, with the situation at Kaeng Krachan Dam being of the greatest concern.

The reservoir was expected to reach maximum capacity last night.

Source - TheNation

 

#Cambodia - Thousands evacuated from Stung Treng due to floodwaters from Laos dam

Cambodian soldiers evacuate residents by boat from the floodings in Stung Treng province on Thursday. The torrent of water unleashed in a deadly Laos dam collapse has drained into Cambodia, forcing thousands to evacuate, as rescuers battled monsoon rains to find scores of Laotians still missing after entire villages were washed away.

 About 25,000 people living in Siem Pang district in Stung Treng province were taken to safety following the flooding triggered by the collapse of a hydropower dam in neighbouring Laos.

Stung Treng provincial governor Mom Saroeun told The Post on Thursday that rescue workers managed to bring all victims trapped in the floods to high ground. 

Authorities are now providing medicines and basic necessities such as food, mosquito nets and drinking water. 

The authorities said a total of 1,289 families were affected on the Cambodian side after the dam tragedy on Monday evening, which also displaced about 3,000 people and killed at least 26 in Laos. 

The Stung Treng province is in the northern part of Cambodia and located about 50 kilometres away from the Laos border.

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The Ministry of Water Resources said until 3:10pm on Thursday, the water level of Sekong River rose up to 12.10 metres, surpassing the danger level of 11.50 meters.

National Committee of Disaster Management (NCDM) spokesman Keo Vy said: “At 5pm on Thursday the number of evacuees might change as the water level was still rising and I have not received the latest figures yet.”

The situation in Siem Pang district was grim as well. Phen Bunthoeun, Stung Treng Programme Unit Manager of Plan International Cambodia, said houses were flooded and people had to vacate. 

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 “Our findings show that 562 families living in Santepheap and Thmor Keo communes are desperately waiting for emergency assistance such as tents, food, clean water and items related to sanitation,” he said.

Bunthoeun said there was a critical shortage of clean water. Rescue workers have asked local authorities to supply it in containers apart from providing additional tents too. 

Vy said NCDM’s one-year assistance for flood victims includes 10,000 tonnes of rice, 2,000 tonnes of rice seeds and 50 tonnes of crop seeds, while financial aid will only be given if there is a request. 

“These numbers are usually allocated for emergency cases but in the last few years, we have never used them because the provincial authorities managed to cover the expenses."

“The financial package is under a special government allocation and once the situation is severe, the prime minister will authorise the allocation,” he said. 

Vy said in Kratie province, once the Mekong River’s water level reaches 20 meters high, it is considered dangerous as it could flood the low land areas. On Thursday, the water level was recorded at 20.16 metres.

If the water level touches 22 meters, he said it is considered alarming for the Mekong River in Kratie Province.

“Some low land areas – Dam Pout and Dam Lahong – have since submerged due to the rising water,” he said.

 Vy said the ministry had issued a warning to the people living along the low land areas to quickly harvest their crops before the flood arrives.

Source - PhnomPenhPost

Thailand - Six footballers emerging in quick succession, safe and well : source

As of 7.25pm Sunday, six of the 13 Mu Pa Academy footballers trapped inside Tham Luang Cave since June 23 had been safely evacuated, a military source confirmed.

All six youths underwent medical exams, having weathered the challenging journey to the entrance of the cave from the place they’d sheltered deep inside. All were found to be in good health and responded well to queries.

The first two boys were by that time already at Chiang Rai Prachanukraw Hospital, where they’ll be further monitored, and the two others were being examined at a field hospital. 

Three more members of the group were in a chamber close to the cave entrance.

Source - TheNation

Mark’, 14, first the emerge from cave

The first Mu Pa Academy footballer rescued from the Chiang Rai cave has been identified as Mongkhon Bunpiem, 14.

He emerged from Tham Luang Cave at 5.10pm and was examined at a field hospital before boarding an ambulance to an airfield for the helicopter ride to Chiang Rai Prachanukraw Hospital.

Mongkhon, whose nickname is Mark, is a football academy trainee who  has played football since childhood and tends to wear football jerseys all the time. His favourite team is  Thai League's Muangthong United. 

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Thailand - World media moved back from cave as evacuation begins

Foreign media members on Sunday said they accepted an order by Thai authorities to move out of area outside the Tham Luang cave as evacuation of the footballers begins.

Foreign media are being evacuated four kilometres from the cave to ensure clear access. Journalists will be housed at the Tambon Pong Pha Administrative Organisation Office on Phaholyothin Road.

 The 12 teens and their football coach assistant have been trapped in the flooded cave since June 23, with experts from international allies joining with Thais to rescue the team in a race against water and time.

Local and international media have converged at the cave to keep the world up-to-date with the latest developments. 

Six days after the footballers were found safe deep in the cave network last Monday, authorities on Sunday launched the evacuation operation to bring them out.

Spanish television reporter Biel Calderon said he didn't mind the request that media move out of the way of officials and rescuers during the high-risk extraction.

Calderon agreed that a large group of media could harm the efficiency of the rescue operation and cause delays. He said he understood that there were reasons for such a request in the life-and-death situation and media needed to respect it.

 Russian TV reporter Andrey Pashin, who had been covering the story for the past four days from the cave entrance, said he felt positive about the authorities regulating the large number of media in the vicinity to ensure the rescuers are not blocked.

He hoped that, without a continuing media presence in the area, officials could work more efficiently and more quickly rescue the trapped youths.

 Pashin said he wasn't much worried much getting film for his news coverage, because he believed that officials were working to address the issue. He hoped that the Thai authorities would ensure all media have equal access to information and pictures and that any news and images obtained by journalists would be pooled and shared among all other media workers.

The Thai authorities on Saturday began limiting the media’s access at the front of the cave, but some journalists had ventured under the rope fence to report the news.

This led to an official order being issued at 7am on Sunday to reclaim the area outside cave. Media members, along with volunteers and officials not vital to the rescue efforts, were to be cleared from and kept way from the area by 9am.

Many reporters negotiated to remain, while others moved as ordered to crowd the Tambon Pong Pha Administrative Organisation Office area.

Source - TheNation 

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#Bangkok in danger of flooding unless old drainage improved, say academics.

BANGKOK will not be safe from the severe impact of major storms unless there is a huge improvement in the capital’s drainage system and canal network, academics have warned as more heavy rain is predicted for the capital.

A group of academics on water management, disaster prevention and city planning said at a public seminar at Chulalongkorn University yesterday that Bangkok’s drainage system was old, poorly maintained and unable to drain the water adequately, which increases the risk of Bangkok being severely flooded if another storm hits.

Thailand Global Warming Academy director Thanawat Charupongsakul said that Bangkok lacked the preparedness to cope with a storm. The widespread flooding in 55 areas of the city last Saturday showed that Bangkok could not withstand even a portion of the deluge and it took a day to drain the floodwater.

“It is not frequent for Bangkok to be directly hit by tropical storm, but the city is situated on the storm route and was hit directly several times in the past, such as in 1952 and 1983,” Thanawat said.

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He said that the precipitation within a six-hour period on Saturday night exceeded 214 millimetres and broke a 10-year record. 

If the rain was measured per hour, it was only 40 millimetres, which was within Bangkok’s drainage capacity, but it still flooded and showed the inability of the system to handle the volume, he said.

He warned that Bangkok will suffer badly from flooding if a storm hits the city directly with up to 300 millimetres of rain per hour.

“Bangkok’s sewage system is already more than 30 years old. It is suffering from a lack of maintenance, land sinking problems, and garbage and sediment clogging, which greatly reduce the drainage capacity,” Thanawat said.

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“Moreover, the construction of a floodwall along the Chao Phraya River also increases the water level in the river higher than the water level in the drainage system and canals, which makes the water drainage to the river hard and slow,” he said.

He also pointed out that the lack of separation between sewage from households and rainwater drainage also hinders drainage, because more than 10 million citizens in Bangkok release around 6 million cubic metres of wastewater into the system every day.

Terdkiat Sakkhamduang , the former chairman of Thai Urban Designers Association, suggested that Bangkok’s drainage system has to be entirely improved and the city plan also has to be revised.

Water pumps ready

“We have learned a lesson from the flaws in Bangkok’s city plan that prioritise too much in replacing canals with expanding the road network. We should learn from our past and restore the canals, as the canal network can drain water far better than the sewage system,” Terdkiat said.

Bangkok governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang warned yesterday that Bangkok would face more heavy rains overnight, which may be as severe as the downpour last Saturday. He said Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had prepared for the downpour by getting the water pumps ready and lowering the water level in the canals.

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  Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda also affirmed that Bangkok residents should not be worried over the potential danger of flooding from northern run-offs, as the Royal Irrigation Department was in control of water in dams and 12 water-retention fields in upstream areas could absorb floodwater before it reached the capital. 

Chai Nat’s Chao Phraya Dam was currently receiving about 2,500 cubic metres of water per second, which was in balance with the level it released, he said.

Source - TheNation 

#Bangkok - Online rumours create ‘false panic’ over floods.

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang has dismissed online rumours that the city’s Saen Saep canal will be closed to allow the discharge of rainwater from the Northern provinces and is urging the public to follow truthful information on official websites and other reliable sources.

In addition, the government will take legal action against those who intentionally misled the public by posting old news dating back to the country’s massive floods in late 2011, according to chief spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

As Bangkok was hit by heavy downpours from late on Friday night until the early hours of yesterday, some old news stories and images that appeared online suggested that a massive amount of water had been released from the Bhumibol Dam to Bangkok via the Saen Saep canal. These posts, which were extensively shared on social media, were disseminated to frighten the public, Sansern said.

He said those who posted the false information would be subject to criminal prosecution under the computer crimes and related laws.

According to Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang, the city’s administration has worked closely with the Department of Irrigation to manage the overall floodwater situation, and it is untrue that the Saen Saep canal would be shut as rumoured. He urged the public to update news on the current |situation via the Line ID @bkk_best, on |the website www.facebook.com/bkk.best |or the Bangkok hotline, 1555.

 

Aswin said the city had returned to normal with only a few major streets still flooded as of late yesterday. If there were no more heavy downpours spanning several hours, the situation would be all right, he said.

From 11pm on Friday until the early hours of yesterday, rainwaters reached the critical level of 214 millimetres, causing flash floods in 55 locations across Bangkok.

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Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department forecast there could be more rain in and around Bangkok due to the influence of a monsoon and a high-pressure system, but the tropical storm Khanun would have no effect on Thailand after making landfall in upper Vietnam.

Earlier yesterday, Bangkokians who had no urgent business were urged to stay home as many city roads were still inundated, such as Si Ayutthaya Road from the Phaya Thai intersection to the Urupong intersection and Rama VI Road, Rajaprarop Road, Ratchavithi Road, the Din Daeng area and nearby Vibhavadi Road.

Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district recorded its highest single-day rainfall in a decade after torrential rains lashed the capital late on Friday and early yesterday, recording 214.5mm of accumulated rainwater. This was followed by Phasi Charoen district’s 214mm, Saphan Mon’s 208mm, Yan Nawa district’s 195mm, and Bueng Makkasan pond in Ratchathewi district’s 177.5mm.

Officials said the city had a capacity to drain rainwater in real time as long as a downpour did not reach more than 60mm per hour.

Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was one of the flood victims.

“It is the first time floodwater has got into my house. I did not lift things up. My car has already broken down,” he posted on his official Line account yesterday afternoon. The Democrat Party leader’s house is in Soi Sukhumvit 31.

Meanwhile, a former deputy Bangkok governor lashed out at the city administration for trying to please Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha by supporting his floating market policy and neglecting the draining of the capital’s canals.

Teerachon Manomaiphibui posted on his Facebook wall that from his experience as a deputy governor, he would urge the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to drain all canals in preparation for heavy rain.

“The BMA should not be worried about the floating market policy of the prime minister,” Teerachon said. “The BMA should explain to the prime minister about the management of flood prevention in Bangkok during the monsoon season. If all canals are kept brimming in line with the floating market policy, flooding will occur immediately,” Teerachon posted.

“All water pumping systems must be turned on at full capacity to drain water. The BMA should not try to please the prime minister without explaining the truth to him.”

Source - TheNation

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Bangkok roads flooded following heavy overnight rains

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Heavy rains throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning have caused flooding on many Bangkok roads, leading to severe traffic congestion during the morning rush hours.

[See also: Five flood-hit Bangkok schools closed
More photos from Ratchadaphisek scene
More photos from Moo Ban Chonlathep in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan ]

The Bangkok Flood Prevention Centre issued a statement, warning motorists to avoid the following eight roads:
1. Ratchadaphisek Road from the Ratchayothin intersection to Lat Phrao Road

2. Ngam Wong Wan Road at Pongphet Market and Soi Shinnakhet
3. Lat Phrao Road from Pradit Manoontham Road to Soi Lat Phrao 97
4. Pattanakarn Road from the Klong Tan intersection to Klong Lao
5. Ramkhamhaeng Road in front of the Bang Kapi electricity office
6. Srinakharin Road near Wat Sri-Iam
7. Srinakharin Road at the Krungthep Kreetha intersection
8. Sukhumvit Road under BTS Baring station.
On some roads waterlogging was as high as 40 centimetres.
The floods prompted Sompong Wiengkaew, director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Sewerage and Drainage Department, to inspect some roads at 4.40am.
He said many roads were flooded late Wednesday night but the waters had receded by Thursday morning while his department officials were racing against time to drain the water.
The water level subsided on the Ngam Wong Wan-Pong Phet Road and vehicles could use two right lanes while the left lanes on both sides were still flooded.
He said the road in front of the Criminal Court was still inundated.
His department reported at 4.45am that Klong Chao Khun Sing in Wang Thong Lang district had the heaviest rainfall – 156.5 millimetres.

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Source - TheNation

Proper safeguards needed for long-term AEC benefits, #Thailand

Asean countries need to integrate appropriate safeguards to ensure inclusiveness and sustainability in any benefits to be brought about by the Asean Economic Community (AEC), experts said recently.

 At a Bangkok symposium on "Shared solutions: Safeguarding sustainable development in the Mekong region", Venkatachalam Anbumozhi, senior energy economist at the Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia, said AEC will propel infrastructure investment in the Mekong region.

The benefits of AEC for the subregion include faster and more dynamic economic growth, stronger Asian voices in international forums, an alternative to global multilateral institutions, less poverty and better social indicators.

Yet, the benefits outweighed its costs - greater divide between rich and poor, loss of independence of national economic policies, weaker economic linkages with non-Asian countries and a loss of national culture and identity.

He called for proper environmental safeguards. This issue is challenging as Asean has a diverse mix of environmental and natural resources, a different environmental governance structure, dynamic legal regime, land tenure and taxation, and absence from region-wide institutions and systems to regulate, manage and monitor social and ecological impacts.

To improve regional cooperation, it is important to establish a standard approach that is programmatic, systematic, sequenced, targeted and transparent; to adopt a coherent framework for safeguard policies, legislation, tools and initiatives that compliment and strengthen each other; and to integrate policies in the administrative and legislative dimensions.

Networking and institution building, data and information management, education and training, international best practices and dispute settlement are the strategies to achieve the target.

"Asean is different from the European Union, which has a wide range of diversity. We need to learn how they can move forward with this diversity. Both government-to-government and business-to-business cooperation, coordination and collaboration are needed. Development will largely depend on how far we are going," he said.

At the event, Matthew Baird, of Environmental Counsel Asia, stressed the importance of climate change and environmental impact assessments (EIAs). Countries in the region need to seriously take into consideration the two factors for all investment projects.

"It is time for an Asean framework convention on EIA to ensure the bloc will see further developments in the near future," he said.

The framework convention should cover regional EIA capacity-building, access to information and public participation, registration and training of EIA consultants, transboundary EIA assessment, strategic environmental assessment and screening lists for projects.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, compared to the climate in 1961-90, the average global temperature will increase by 1 degree Celsius from 2010-39 and 3-4 degrees from 2070-99.

Average rainfall will decrease by 20 millimetre from 2010-39, then increase by 60mm from 2070-99. Globally, water has been projected to be a key indicator of these changes. The increase in fossil fuel consumption for economic development directly leads to an increase of carbon dioxide emissions as the major man-made cause of climate change.

Actions on climate change were part of the United Nations' new 17 sustainable development goals. Countries are being invited to submit their action plans on the issue to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, as the world is expected to strike a new universal climate change agreement at the UN climate conference in Paris in December.

The Paris agreement will go into effect in 2020, empowering all countries to act to prevent average global temperatures rising above 2 degrees Celsius and to reap the many opportunities that arise from a necessary global transformation to clean and sustainable development.

Over 50 countries have submitted their action plans, including four Asean members - Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia.

During the Union Nations General Assembly last week, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said, "We have no hope of ending extreme poverty unless we tackle climate change".

According to data from the World Wildlife Fund, across the Mekong region, temperatures rose by 0.5-1.5C in the past 50 years. The region is vulnerable to climate change with expected impacts on the region's terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems.

According to a report by the Asian Development Bank, Thailand's temperature increased from 1-1.8C in the past 50 years, while Vietnam's temperature increased by 0.7C during this period.

The climate change action plans of the countries in the subregion mainly involve energy policies.

Thailand targets to boost the renewable energy portion to 20.3 per cent by 2022. Vietnam's renewable energy portion will be raised to 5 per cent by 2020 and 11 per cent by 2050. Cambodia aims to raise both the electrification rate and renewable portion to 100 per cent by 2020. Laos aims to extend electricity access to 90 per cent of households by 2020 and increase renewable energy to 30 per cent by 2025.

Seree Nonthasoot, Thailand's representative to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, said human rights and environmental issues are interlinked.

Asean should adopt people-oriented and gender-responsive development programmes, and needs to develop a CSR (corporate social responsibility) strategy for the grouping. The current discussion on CSR and human rights should be broadened to include other stakeholders.

"Asean needs to incorporate human rights into community vision. Development of regional guidelines and closer cooperation among regional stakeholders is essential. Alignment between NAPs (national action plans) and existing human rights action plans is also needed," he said.

Source: The Nation

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