1 Key Feature and Challenges from Climate Change for Mekong River Basin By Dr. Thanapon Piman Planning Division Basin Development Plan Pragramme Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS)
2 Outline 1) The Mekong River Basin 2) Key Concerns on Impact of Climate Change 3) Preliminary Study Results on Climate Change 4) Key Challenges from Climate Change on Transboundary Water Management
3 The Mekong River Basin
4 Here We Are Mekong Basin Mekong River Basin is in South East Asia
The 8 th largest river of the world Physical Characteristic Total Upper MK Lower MK Length (km) 4,800 2,200 2,600 Catchment area (km 2 ) 795,000 189,000 606,000 Flow (mcm) 493,590 83,530 410,060 Area Flow 3% 0.5% MYANMAR Area Flow 21% 16.5% Area Flow 25% 41.2% Area Flow 20% 19.4% Area Flow 23% 14.5% Area Flow 25% 8.0% MYANMAR Source: Presentation on flow contribution to the Mekong Mainstream (1985-2000-using DSF), The 7 th Meeting of the Technical Working Group, 3-5 October 2007
Climate condition Northeast Monsoon 6 (Nov-Feb) July Southwest Monsoon (May-Oct) Aug Sep Oct
7 Land cover Rainfall Population Grassland 400-600 3-6 person/km 2 11-100 Forest 3-6 Cropland mm 1000-1400 2000-2800 11-100 1-2 >100
Flow (m 3 /s) Mean Monthly Flow 8 of Lower Mekong Mainstream Chiang Saen Luang Prabang 40.000 35.000 30.000 1960-2005 (46 years) Vientiane Pakse Mukdahan 25.000 20.000 15.000 Kratie 10.000 5.000 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
9 Giant River
10 Culture
11 Socio-economic
12 Cooperation in Lower Mekong River Basin The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was formed on 5 April 1995 by an agreement between the governments of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. Cooperate in all fields of sustainable development, utilization, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin in a manner to optimize the multiple-use and mutual benefits of all riparians and to minimize the harmful effects that might result from natural occurrences and man-made activities.
13 MRC Strategic Directions for Integrated Water Resources Management in the Lower Mekong Basin
14 Key Concerns on Impact of Climate Change
15 1. Water availability
16 2. Water related disasters
17 3. Water supply and food production
18 4. Change in ecosystems
19 5. Livelihood
20 Preliminary Results on Climate Change Studies in Mekong River Basin
21 Study of Environment Programme MRC
Change (%) of average annual rainfall during 2010-50 relative to 1985-2000 Change (%) of average annual temperature during 2010-50 relative to 1985-2000 22
23 Study of Southeast Asia START Regional Center
10 years average daily max. temperature ( o C) 24
10 years average daily min. temperature ( o C) 25
26 Annual precipitation change from 1980 s (%)
27 Key Challenges from Climate Change on Transboundary Water Management
28 1. Develop regional-scale tools to monitor and analyze climate change as well as basin-wide effects 2. Scope of basin-wide vulnerability assessment 3. Develop regional climate change adaptation strategy under constrain of uncertainty 4. Address transboudary impacts of climate change and regional climate change adaptation strategy into national strategies and measures 5. Sharing information and knowledge among the counties 6. Increase awareness about climate change and its impacts and adaptation to people
Thank you 29
30 Alert Events
31 China
32 Thailand-Lao Big Flood during 1-20 August 2008 in the Northern part Flood in 1966
Alert Events 33 19 months ago: This h environmental group G March, 2007 and rece shows a farmer at Chi the bank of the Mekon whats left of a dying c levels at the mighty riv drastically due to drou and damming upstrea supply, transport route communities in Thaila and Vietnam. Drought caused by climate change in China (photo: Reuters)