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Damming the Lower Mekong: A River No Longer Runs Through It
February 18th, 2020
Courtesy of The New York Times, a detailed report on how current and planned dams on the Mekong River are choking a lifeline for 60 million people: The water is so clear on the Mekong River in northeastern Thailand that the sunlight pierces through to the riverbed, transforming the waterway into a glinting, empty aquarium. It […]
Read more »Damming the White Nile
February 18th, 2020
Via Future Directions International, an article on the potential dam being considered on Uganda’s White Nile river: According to a Reuters report, a Chinese hydropower developer has applied to build the US$1.4 billion ($2.1 billion) Ayago hydropower plant between Lakes Kyoga and Albert on the White Nile in Uganda. Sinohydro, another Chinese construction company, is expected […]
Read more »Water Insecurity in Central Asia: A Steppe on the One Belt, One Road Initiative?
January 30th, 2020
Via Future Directions International, a look at water insecurity in Central Asia: Central Asia is integral to Chinese efforts to increase its global connectivity. Natural resource constraints, including access to water, could undermine its influence in the region. Given the legacy of failed foreign water infrastructure in the region, any Chinese efforts to address water […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China’s Water Tower Facing Extreme Stress
January 20th, 2020
Via China Water Risk, a report on the Tarim Basin which is China’s ‘Water Tower’ which is facing ‘extremely high’ water stress: The Tarim Basin is China’s ‘Water Tower’ with 41% of its ice but also >1/3 of it faces ‘extremely high’ water stress It is one of the world’s largest cotton producing regions; tariff hikes […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China’s First River Law Set To Push Green Transition
January 20th, 2020
Via Silk Road.earth, a report on China’s first river law: China has drafted its first-ever river law for its largest river, the Yangtze. After passing the first-round review at the National People’s Congress, the draft is currently under public consultation until 26 January 2020. This is one of China’s latest actions to tackle resource constraints and […]
Read more »Asia’s Great Rivers: Climate Crisis, Pollution Put Billions At Risk
January 11th, 2020
Via Terra Daily, a report on the potential risk facing Asia’s great rivers: The year is 2100. The glaciers of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region — the world’s “Third Pole” — are vanishing as the planet warms, the ice that once fed the great rivers of Asia is all but lost, and with it much of […]
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