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The Thirsty Dragon: High Altitude Thirst
February 10th, 2016
Via The Economist, another look at the potential impact that bottling Himalayan water may have upon the environment: CHINA is so vast, it quickly becomes the largest market for almost anything it consumes. Such is the case with bottled water. Chinese drink 40 billion litres (70 billion pints) of the stuff each year, up over […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Implications Of Chinese Control Over Asia’s Major River Systems
February 4th, 2016
Via Future Directions International, a look at the implications of Chinese control over Asia’s major river systems: Key Points Tibet is the epicentre of regional food and water security. It is crucial that China and the countries downstream co-operate to ensure freshwater supplies for all. Climate change, Asia’s rapid urbanisation and population growth rates are placing […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China Drives Water Cooperation With Mekong Countries
February 1st, 2016
Via Third Pole.net, an interesting article on China’s agreement to engage more closely with its Southeast Asian neighbours over controversial hydropower projects and water resources: China is more closely involved in cross-border cooperation on hydropower and water management after the six countries that share the Mekong River signed a landmark agreement late last year. While more […]
Read more »Parched Tiger And Thirsty Dragon: Brahmaptura Dams Hold Back Silt, Not Water
December 23rd, 2015
Via Third Pole.net, an article on the recently completed Zangmu hydropower project in Tibet, where China has assured India that water flows on the Brahmaputra would not be affected but has said nothing about the silt flow: The sounds of concern and assurance were familiar. As China completed building the 510 MW Zangmu hydropower station in […]
Read more »Tibetan Glacial Melt Threatens Billions
November 30th, 2015
Via Voice of America, a report on the risk that the Tibetan Plateau might soon lose most of its glacier and permafrost, affecting water supplies throughout Asia: With temperatures rising four times faster than anywhere else in Asia, the Tibetan Plateau might soon lose most of its glacier and permafrost, affecting water supplies throughout Asia, Chinese […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China’s Rush To Dam Rivers Flowing To Other Nations
November 26th, 2015
Via Brahma Chellaney’s Statecraft blog, an interesting look at how China’s rush to dam rivers is flowing to other nations: As if to underscore the contrast between an autocracy and a democracy, China’s recent announcement that all six power-generating units at the world’s highest-elevation dam in Zangmu, Tibet, are now fully operational coincided with protesters stalling movement […]
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