Hua Hin conference calls on Mekong leaders to balance economic development with protection of water resources

Hau Hin, Thailand, 3 April 2010

After two days of discussions, more than 200 international experts, from NGOs, River Basin Organisations and government agencies in the fields of hydropower, water resource management and environmental protection released a message stressing the urgency of joint action in climate change, improving water quality and protecting the economic and poverty alleviation potential of the Mekong Basin, says the Mekong River Commission (MRC), which organized the event.

“The overall message agreed to by participants in the conference is clear: the economic, social and environmental prosperity of Mekong countries depends on how we protect and share the benefits of our common water resources through cooperative mechanisms,” said Jeremy Bird, CEO of the MRC.

Among other things, the statement; which will be presented to Prime Minister’s from Mekong countries who will also meet in Hua Hin on Monday; draws attention to the challenge of adapting to the potential impacts of climate change on water resources in the basin, which are expected to include increased frequency and intensity of floods and droughts, and also significant sea level rise. It calls on countries in the basin to begin to strengthen disaster risk management and to emphasise water security for the poorest people in the basin, who the international experts at the conference agreed are most likely to suffer under the expected impacts of global warming.

The release of the statement is timely, coming at a time when Yunan Province in China, northern Lao PDR and Thailand are experiencing a severe dry period and low river levels. The MRC has said in the past that this is the kind of effect likely if future climate change predictions come true.

The conference also called for all parties in the basin to be more open with the provision of trans-boundary water related data, claiming in the statement that “Transparent access to current and accurate water resources information throughout the basin is essential. Monitoring of rainfall, flows and water quality is a perquisite for building cooperation. Data needs to be shared for trans-boundary cooperation to develop effectively.” Delegates also called for increasing the involvement of civil society stakeholders in planning activities and decision making processes for river developments.

Although a recent report by the MRC said that water quality in the Mekong was mostly rated “excellent” for the protection of aquatic life, the conference called on Mekong countries to focus on improving water quality. “International experience confirms that the rehabilitation of river water quality takes considerable time and is more costly than managing waste water discharge and preventing pollution and spills,” said the statement.

The controversial issue of hydropower was also included in the statement, with the conference acknowledging that hydropower and infrastructure development on the river could have significant benefits for Mekong countries, but that “These infrastructure developments need to adequately address the social and ecosystems impacts that result from those investments, including those across administrative boundaries,” it said.

Above article from: http://www.mrcmekong.org/MRC_news/press10/end-of-intl-conference3-Apr-10.htm