Environment and natural resources
Climate change sinks the delta, mindset worsens it
The sinking situation of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta in the south of Vietnam—seen in the rising tides and worsening floods affecting the region—is obviously caused by climate change. But the mindset of planners that fostered the building of embankment systems around the delta decades ...
‘Breakthrough solution’ needed to mitigate Mekong Delta flooding
Local authorities in the Mekong Delta are taking serious measures to prevent flooding caused by high tides during the annual flood season in the area. The delta’s provinces, and especially Can Tho City, have been severely affected by high tides over the past few days. Keep ...
Lancang River formed 17 mln years ago: study
The Lancang River, the world’s twelfth longest river and seventh longest in Asia, was formed around 17 million years ago, according to the latest study conducted by the Department of Resources and Environment at Lanzhou University, which is based in northwestern China’s Gansu Province. Keep reading ...
Renewable energy high priority for Mekong region: scientists
Cambodia, Laos and Việt Nam must work closer together to make the shift to using more renewable energy. This a vital step in attaining the region’s as well as each country’s sustainable development, said Prof. Đặng Nguyên Anh, Vice President of the Việt Nam Academy ...
Syracuse geologists contribute to new understanding of Mekong River incision
An international team of earth scientists has linked the establishment of the Mekong River to a period of major intensification of the Asian monsoon during the middle Miocene, about 17 million years ago, findings that supplant the assumption that the river incised in response to ...
Thailand to ban foreign plastic waste from 2021
Thailand plans to stop all imports of foreign plastic scrap by 2021 as it joins other south-east Asian countries looking to stem an influx of waste products that used to be recycled in China. Fleshing out details of the ban, which was initially announced in ...
Landslides spreading quickly in Mekong Delta
The speed of the land subsidence in the Mekong Delta region is 2cm to 4cm per year focusing on coastallines and low-lying areas. The cause is because of rising underground water exploitation, said the Southern Irrigation Science institute. Keep reading ...
Mekong Delta fights high-tide flooding
The local authorities in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta are taking steps to mitigate the impact of flooding caused by high tides during the annual flood season. The delta’s provinces and Can Tho City have been severely affected by high tides over the past few days. Keep reading ...
China Solidifies Its Influence in Southeast Asia
China has always wielded significant influence in Southeast Asia. Lately, though, as the West turns its attention elsewhere, Beijing has been seeking to solidify its economic and political clout in the region. []But in no other region is China’s influence as pronounced as in the countries ...
Mekong Delta is getting a real sinking feeling
Sinking land in the Mekong Delta is causing a headache for the local administration. In recent years, average land subsidence rateis 1.1cm every 12 months. This can lead to major economic losses such as structural damage and high maintenance costs for roads, railways, dikes, pipelines and ...