Greater Mekong region must sustain economic growth while simultaneously ensuring the Mekong and its ecosystems remain healthy.
Sustainable Hydropower
View across the Mekong river (Thailand/Laos border) from the Pha Taem cliffs. N.E. Thailand.
Mapping an alternative
While some see the Mekong River as a source of fish, others see it as a source of electricity.
Eleven Memorandums of Understanding have been signed for the construction of hydropower dams on the lower sections of the Mekong River. The decision to construct just one of these dams carries with it permanent consequences for the Mekong’s biodiversity, fisheries and people.
A comprehensive assessment of the full economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of hydropower development in the Mekong River basin should be conducted. If not properly planned using sustainable criteria, these dams might have devastating consequences on ecosystems, economies and communities.
• The 1995 agreement of the Mekong River Commission should be fully recognized and endorsed.
• A 10-year delay in the approval of the mainstream dams should be agreed upon to fully consider the costs and benefits of their construction and operation.
• Greater Mekong region governments can meet their immediate energy needs from multiple hydropower projects on selected Mekong tributaries. These too need to be assessed for their overall costs and benefits.
A comprehensive assessment of the full economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of hydropower development in the Mekong River basin should be conducted. If not properly planned using sustainable criteria, these dams might have devastating consequences on ecosystems, economies and communities.
Recommendations for the way forward
WWF makes these recommendations to the governments of the Greater Mekong region as sustainable way forward on hydropower development.• The 1995 agreement of the Mekong River Commission should be fully recognized and endorsed.
• A 10-year delay in the approval of the mainstream dams should be agreed upon to fully consider the costs and benefits of their construction and operation.
• Greater Mekong region governments can meet their immediate energy needs from multiple hydropower projects on selected Mekong tributaries. These too need to be assessed for their overall costs and benefits.
The Mekong River at its source in Tibet's highlands.
Contact
Marc Goichot
Sustainable Infrastructure Advisor
WWF Greater Mekong Programme
marc.goichot@wwfgreatermekong.org
Sustainable Infrastructure Advisor
WWF Greater Mekong Programme
marc.goichot@wwfgreatermekong.org
What is WWF doing?
Side by side with the Mekong River Commission and the Asian Development Bank, WWF is engaging with the hydropower industry, the governments of the Greater Mekong region and local stakeholders to:
- Ensure that hydropower is sustainably developed which implies minimal adverse social and environmental impacts
- Ensure that hydropower benefits all people who live in the basin in terms of the social, environment and economic performance of projects
- While also maintain a viable, profitable and renewable source of energy supporting the region’s economic development.
Environmental Considerations for Sustainable Hydropower Development
The project objective is to build into existing planning tools and processes a set of interventions that will help move the Mekong countries towards adopting an agreed framework for sustainable hydropower development. In this frame, and in close collaboration with the International Hydropower Association, and its Hydropower Sustainabilty Assessment Protocol, this project is contributing to improve the sustainability Assessment Protocol, and promote its use in the Mekong River Basin.
Electricity demand is predicted to rise in the Greater Mekong.
WWF is currently analyzing the projected increase in the electricity demand in the Greater Mekong region as well as the most sustainable options to meet this demand. Following the completion of this assessment, WWF will advocate for a combination of the most sustainable electricity generating options that can support the region’s long-term economic development and common wellbeing.
Selecting free-flowing tributary candidates for potential hydropower development
WWF is using GIS-based tools to select free-flowing tributary candidates for potential hydropower development to promote the concept of free flowing rivers to decision makers.
All of WWF’s initiatives have included broad-based stakeholder participation and move the input of sustainability considerations into earlier stages of master planning.
