The Mekong River basin is about 795,000 km2 large and includes parts of six countries (China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam)

Annual rainfall ranges from 1,000 to 3,000 mm a year, which has strong seasonal variation influenced by the monsoons.

Climate models predict demographic changes and increased precipitation variability are Likely to lead to more severe droughts and floods.

Major uses of water use: These include primarily agricultural applications, domestic consumption, processes in industries, and generating electricity through hydropower.

Water security has challenges of increasing population, rapid industrial activities, and climatic variations.

Urban territory-ranking city (e.g., Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City)

Important incoming cargo Group Product origin Forestry Large natural and plantation forest areas, especially in Natural and plantation forests in Laos, Cambodia. Construction of dams is also one of the reasons behind the differences of opinion of riparian states; specially China (serving as an up-stream state) and Vietnam along with Cambodia (down-stream states) in case of Hydropower Development. Conflicts over water rights and division of water, further complicated by the failure of a sustainable legal framework. The struggle in the basin of the Mekong.

Increased temperature and altered precipitation patterns affect fish migration, agriculture cycles, and water availability.

Impact on people more frequent and severe floods and droughts lead to the threat to food security, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

Water Availability, Access, and Quality:

Dams and Diversions: Upstream dams reduce water flow downstream, affecting agriculture and fisheries.

Pollution: Instances of industrial discharges, agriculture runoff, and urban wastes degrade the quality of water.

Pollution, for instances of industrial discharges, agriculture runoff, and urban wastes degrade the quality of water.

Salinization, sea-level rise and reduced flow of fresh water increase salinity intrusion in the delta.

Hydropower, high reliance on hydropower as the major source of renewable energy, which is a controversial source due to ecological and social impacts.

Alternative Energy for potential solar and wind energy development to decrease the dependency on hydropower.

Agriculture and Food Security

Fisheries: It has been a vital source of protein but is increasingly threatened by overfishing and habitat loss.

Climate Resilience: Climate-resilient agriculture practices are needed to ensure food security.

Mekong River Commission: it is an intergovernmental organization focused on the sustainable development and ensuring source management of the river.

National Policies: The nations bordering the river have dissimilar approaches to water management, with many policies not well coordinated and enforced.

Environmental Equity and Justice

Access to Resources: There has been an inequitable distribution of water resources and the benefit of the hydropower projects.

Access to Resources: There has been an inequitable distribution of water resources and the benefit of the hydropower projects.

Community Involvement: There has been limited participation of local communities in the decision-making processes.

Environmental Sustainability: It ensures that water use is balanced, ecosystems are protected, and water is available in the long term.

Social Responsibility: It ensures that there is fair access to water resources and that the local communities engage in the management process.

Economic Vitality: It supports sustainable economic activities such as eco-tourism and sustainable agriculture.

Enhanced Regional Cooperation

Water Diplomacy: Enhance diplomacy in the transboundary water cooperation that is used to resolve conflicts and build trust.

Data Sharing: Enhance data collection and sharing between the riparian states to guide joint decision-making and management.

Climate-Resilient Practice Adoption:

Sustainable Agriculture: Introduction of drought-resistant breeds of crops, Improved irrigation methodologies.

Ecosystem Restoration: Expand reforestation and wetland restoration to improve natural water regulation and biodiversity.

Disaster Preparedness: Enhanced flood and drought early warning systems, as well as enhancing infrastructure to minimize the impacts of floods and droughts.

Leverage Points:

Governance Improvement: Making MRC and national laws work better.

At a Crossroads in Sustainable

Development: Hydropower and the Dilemma of the Amazon's "wild rivers".

Community Engagement: Making sure local communities can take part in water governance decisions.

United Nations. (2017). World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/development/desa/publications/world-population-prospects-the-2017-revision.html.

ICEM. (2010). Strategic Environmental Assessment of Hydropower on the Mekong mainstream. Hanoi, Viet Nam. Available at http://icem.com.au/portfolio-items/mekong-mainstream-strategic-environmental-assessment-sea/