MRC to cooperate with START on climate change

START is an international research network sponsored by International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP), International Human Dimension Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) and World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) to promote multidisciplinary research on the interactions between humans and the environment. START has nine regional research centres and nodes worldwide and its regional research centre for Southeast Asia is located in Bangkok, Thailand.

The MOU was signed in Vientiane, Lao PDR by Mr. Jeremy Bird, Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat and Dr. Anond Snidvongs, Director of the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for START.

“The Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative of the MRC will provide tools and processes for including climate change impacts and adaptation strategies into planning and management of water resources,” Mr. Bird said at the signing. “This newly launched cooperation between the MRC and Southeast Asia START Regional Centre will benefit the two organisations through sharing of information and will enable each to build on findings of the others.”

Under the MOU the organisations will cooperate on study and related project activities regarding climate change and adaptation; hydrological studies of the Mekong River Basin; sharing of knowledge and information on operational modeling capabilities where they relate to climate change, mitigation or hydrological scenarios; data exchange, technical publications and study results.

The Mekong River Commission is an intergovernmental organisation created in 1995 by an agreement between the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam to promote cooperation for the sustainable development of the water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin.

MRC No. 22/08
Vientiane, Lao PDR
December 11, 2008

For more information please contact:

Mr. Vithet Srinetr,
MRC Secretariat,
Tel: (856) 21 263 263 Ext 2422.
Mobile: (856) 20 559 9139
Email: vithet@mrcmekong.org
Website: www.mrcmekong.org

The above is a slightly edited version of the article at http://www.mrcmekong.org/MRC_news/press08/climate-change-MRC-START.htm