The six nations along the Mekong River – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – have pledged to address the challenges posed by climate change. The commitment was made during meetings held in the Chinese capital Beijing, where senior officials gathered for the 3rd Lancang-Mekong Water Resource Cooperation Forum and the 18th World Water Congress.
The Mekong River, stretching 4,880 kilometers, provides sustenance to approximately 326 million people across these countries. The meetings aim to facilitate knowledge and technology exchange while assessing the progress of projects funded by the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation’s special fund.
Thailand, represented by the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), made clear the significance of collaborative efforts in water resource management across various sectors, including government agencies, the private sector, civil society, and organizations representing women and youths. The focus is on addressing the impacts of climate change, such as floods, droughts and rising demand for fresh water. Thailand proposed a water management plan aligned with its 20-year water management master plan, in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The member countries also agreed to initiate a joint study between the Mekong River Commission and Mekong-Lancang Cooperation to improve information sharing on reservoir operations and water flow and release in the Mekong River basin. This collaborative effort seeks to mitigate the impacts of droughts and floods on downstream communities.
A joint expert group will be established to conduct these studies, while a Lancang-Mekong survey will be conducted to assess the effects on riverbank communities. (NNT)
