Water Issues in Asia with special reference to the Greater Mekong Region and Thailand

Transcription

1 Water Issues in Asia with special reference to the Greater Mekong Region and Thailand Mingsarn Kaosa-ard Social Research Institute Chiang Mai University June 14,

2 Presentation today Current water status Impact of climate change Current water issues -Flooding (Does advanced warning system works?) -Water allocation( efficiency, equity and sustainability: who should get water first?) -Water pollution (who is not paying?) Conclusion 2

3 Water Status Asia has greater water withdrawal than any other parts of the world. Irrigation takes 80-90% of total withdrawal. Population growth, commercial agriculture, urbanization and industrialization further place greater demand for water. Excessive ground water withdrawal has led to land subsidence in large cities and saline water intrusion. 3

4 Actual Renewable Water Resources Region Total, (km3) Per Capita, 2007 (m3/person/year) World 54, ,209.9 Asia (excluding Middle East) 14, ,947.6 China 2, ,125.0 India 1, ,670.2 Japan ,350.9 GMS-5 3, ,089.4 Cambodia ,525.6 Lao ,859.2 Myanmar 1, ,312.8 Thailand ,279.5 Viet Nam ,309.6 Source: WRI,

5 Groundwater Withdrawal, As % of Total Per Capita Region Annual (km3) (m3/person) Recharge World China India Japan Thailand Viet Nam Source: WRI,

6 Climate Change By 2050 s fresh water availability in central Southeast and South-east Asia in larger basin is likely to decrease. 6

7 Climate Change Very likely to contribute to sea level rise in the latter half of this century affecting both urban and agricultural sector Likely increase in tropical cyclone intensity Likely effects on various ecosystems e.g. rain forests, low lying coastal systems and dry tropics. Likely negative impact on food production in low latitudes 7

8 Water disasters in Asia Pictures will be added 8

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10 Top ten countries affected by Flood * Country Date Killed China P Rep Jul ,700,000 China P Rep Jul ,000,000 China P Rep Jul ,000 China P Rep ,000 Myanmar May ,000 China P Rep ,000 China P Rep Jul ,000 Guatemala Oct ,000 China P Rep Aug ,000 Venezuela 15-Dec ,000 * sorted by number of people killed, total affected and by economic damage Source: CRED EM-DAT 10

11 Cyclone Nargis - Myanmar 3 MAY 2008 IRAWADY Delta, MYANMAR At least 130,000 people killed 2.5 million people affected by May 31,

12 Top ten countries affected by wave/surge * Country Date Killed Indonesia 26-Dec ,708 Sri Lanka 26-Dec ,399 India 26-Dec ,389 Thailand 26-Dec ,345 Japan 3-Mar ,000 Soviet Union 4-Nov ,300 Papua N Guinea 17-Jul ,182 Japan 1-Sep ,144 Japan 7-Mar ,100 Indonesia 17-Jul * sorted by number of people killed, total affected and by economic damage Source: CRED EM-DAT 12

13 Water Issues (cont d) Flooding: -Mitigation is possible Advanced warning system are often proposed. An example of community self-help to mitigate impacts from flood and mudslides -Need to empower local government /communities to operate warning systems 13

14 Water allocation Increased competition for water Objectives: Efficiency Equity Sustainability 14

15 % Withdrawal by Sector, 2000 Region Agriculture Industrial Domestic World Asia (excluding Middle East) China India Japan GMS Cambodia Lao Myanmar Thailand Viet Nam Source: WRI,

16 Current systems Water is under priced - Wasteful or inefficient use - Resources diverted to use by the rich and the powerful - Unsustainable use 16

17 Water Issues (cont d) Water Allocation and Use Issues -Upstream downstream conflicts - Conflicts between water resources development and * environment protection * livelihood * ecosystem services - Water allocation between sectors * food or manufactures or services (golf courses /spas) 17

18 Mekong River Basin Development A multi resources, multinational and multi- stakeholders problem 18

19 Flow Contributions: Country Flow Upper Mekong Contributio (18%) China 16% n (%) Yunan, Myanmar China 2% 16 Myanmar 2 Lower Mekong (82%) Laos 35 Cambodia 18% Thailand 18 Lao 35% Cambodia Thailand 18% 18 Viet Nam Viet Nam 11% 11 Total 100 Source: MRC,

20 Tonle Sap Tonle Sap is Southeast Asia s largest freshwater lake and one of the most productive inland water lake providing 60 % of Cambodia inland fisheries and directly supports over 1 million people. 20

21 Tonle Sap is under threat from -logging -siltation and water pollution -overfishing -change in water flow from damming 21

22 Effective conservation of Tonle Sap requires -integrated approach to multiple resources management -empowering local good governance -better understanding of the ecosystem 22

23 Lancang hydropower cascade Under construction Existing 23

24 Complex inter-linkage The higher the flood level, the higher the level of sedimentation Construction of upstream dams could reduce water flow and sedimentation affecting rice and aquatic production. 24

25 Tonle Sap s Future? 25

26 Urban Water Pollution The cost of water pollution is on the rise and constitute a large share of damage f from environment degradation 26

27 Water and Sanitation % Access to Improved Water Sources % Access to Improved Sanitation Region Y2004 Y1990 Y2004 Y1990 World Asia (excluding Middle East) China India Japan GMS-5 Cambodia Lao Myanmar Thailand Viet Nam Source: WRI,

28 Water and Sanitation : Urban % Access to Improved Water Sources % Access to Improved Sanitation Region Y2004 Y1990 Y2004 Y1990 World Asia (excluding Middle East) China India Japan GMS-5 Cambodia Lao Myanmar Thailand Viet Nam Source: WRI,

29 Water Issues (cont d) Water Pollution - Institutional problem weak enforcement Fees - too low Inappropriate wastewater treatment system 29

30 Water Pollution Weak enforcement of Polluter Pays - Principle 30

31 Conclusion Water resources problems cannot be considered and solved as a stand alone problem. More emphasis on institutional not only engineering solution Empower local communities and local governments More Funds for R&D 31