Revisiting Environmental Security in the Mekong Region

The Mekong River which has been the source of livelihood to farmers and fisherfolks and also an essential link to cultures and traditions due to its diverse ecology in riparian countries is threatened by the expansion of hundreds of dams apart from the 11 hydroelectric dams operating on the upper mainstream of the Mekong River, and the 78 dams in Laos. In its bid to become Southeast Asia’s “battery”, environmental security has been neglected due to the weak governance of Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

Addressing environmental security requires sustainable management and protection of natural resources and ecosystems to ensure they are available for future generations. It also requires taking measures to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of environmental threats, including through policies that promote sustainable development, conservation, and environmental justice.

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