Chiang Mai University June 14, 2008 1
Presentation today Current water status Impact of climate change Current water issues Flooding Water allocation Water pollution Recommendation 2
Water Status Asia has greater water withdrawal than any other parts of the world. 3
Water Status Irrigation takes 80-90% of total withdrawal. 4
Water Status Population growth, commercial agriculture, urbanization and industrialization further place greater demand for water. http://web.worldbank.org 5
Excessive ground water withdrawal has led to land subsidence in large cities and saline water intrusion 6
Actual Renewable Water Resources Total, 1960-2007 (km3) Per Capita, 2007 (m3/person/year) Region World Asia (excluding Middle 54,228.4 8,209.9 East) 14,513.9 3,947.6 China 2,829.1 2,125.0 India 1,896.7 1,670.2 Japan 430.0 3,350.9 GMS-5 3,156.4 14,089.4 Cambodia 476.1 32,525.6 Lao 333.6 53,859.2 Myanmar 1,045.6 20,312.8 Thailand 409.9 6,279.5 Viet Nam 891.2 10,309.6 Source: WRI, 2008 7
Climate Change By 2050 s fresh water availability in central, Southeast and South Asia esp.in larger basins is likely to decrease. 8
Climate Change Increase in tropical cyclone intensity 9
Climate Change Very likely to contribute to sea level rise in the latter half of this century affecting both urban and agricultural sector. 10
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Thailand Source: Dasgupta, Laplante, Meisner, Wheeler & Yan, The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Developing Countries, World Bank, 2007 14
15 Source: Dasgupta, Laplante, Meisner, Wheeler & Yan, The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Developing Countries, World Bank, 2007
Source: Dasgupta, Laplante, Meisner, Wheeler & Yan, The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Developing Countries, World Bank, 2007 16
SLR = 0 m. Source: Dasgupta, Laplante, Meisner, Wheeler & Yan, The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Developing Countries, World Bank, 2007 17
SLR = 1 m. Source: Dasgupta, Laplante, Meisner, Wheeler & Yan, The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Developing Countries, World Bank, 2007 18
SLR = 2 m. Source: Dasgupta, Laplante, Meisner, Wheeler & Yan, The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Developing Countries, World Bank, 2007 19
Water issues Management of floods
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Top ten countries affected by Flood * Country Date Killed China P Rep Jul-1931 3,700,000 China P Rep Jul-1959 2,000,000 China P Rep Jul-1939 500,000 China P Rep 1935 142,000 Myanmar May-2008 130,000 China P Rep 1911 100,000 China P Rep Jul-1949 57,000 Guatemala Oct-1949 40,000 China P Rep Aug-1954 30,000 Venezuela 15-Dec-1999 30,000 * sorted by number of people killed, total affected and by economic damage Source: CRED EM-DAT 23
MYANMAR At least 130,000 people killed2.5 million people affected (by May 31, 2008) 24
3 MAY 2008 IRAWADY Delta, MYANMAR At least 130,000 people killed (by May 31, 2008) 25
Water Issues Flooding: Mitigation possible Advanced warning systems are often proposed. An example of community self-help to mitigate impacts from flood and mudslides Empower local government /communities to operate warning systems 26
Water Allocation and Use Issues Water allocation between economic sectors * food,energy, or manufactures or services (golf courses /spas) 27
Water Allocation Issues Increasingly complex Multi- dimensional (commercial, cultural, political values) Multi-stakeholders (Central/local Gov, NGOs, Business,Communities etc.) Multinational Involving many other resources (land, biodiversity etc.) 28
Water allocation Increased competition for water Objectives: Efficiency Equity Sustainability 29
Current tools Ineffective command and control Water is inappropriately priced. Wasteful, unsustainable use Resources diverted to use by the rich and the powerful 30
Water Issues Water Allocation and Use Issues Upstream downstream conflicts between development and * environment protection * livelihood * ecosystem services Conflicts are warning signals 31
A multi resources, multinational and multi- stakeholders problem. River management has become a multinational phenomenon. 32
Flow Contributions Upper Country Mekong (18%) Flow Contribution China 16% (%) Yunan, Myanmar China 2% 16 Myanmar 2 Lower Mekong (82%) Laos 35 Thailand 18 Cambodia 18% Cambodia 18 Lao 35% Viet Thailand Nam 18% 11 Total Viet Nam 11% 100 Source: MRC, 1996 33
Lancang hydropower cascade Under construction Existing 34
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The Future of Tonle Sap 36
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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. 38
Tonle Sap Tonle Sap is under threat from -logging -siltation and water pollution -overfishing -change in water flow from damming 39
Complex inter-linkage Construction of upstream dams could reduce sedimentation affecting rice and aquatic production. High level of dry season water may lead to permanent submersion of forests, therefore threat to livelihood. 40
Tonle Sap Effective conservation of Tonle Sap requires -integrated approach to multiple resources management -empowering local good governance -better understanding of the ecosystem 41
Urban Water Pollution Increased urbanization has led to changing economic role and hence value of water, and change in benefits to users leading to new tension and conflicts. The cost of water pollution is on the rise and constitute a large share of damage from environment degradation. 42
Water Pollution Mae Kha canal at Saeng Tawan intersection contains polluted water and causes unpleasant smells. Many authorities have made efforts to purify the water and solve the water pollution, without success. 43
Water Pollution freshwater-seagreenpeace.org 44
Water and Sanitation % Access to Improved Water Sources % Access to Improved Sanitation Region Y2004 Y1990 Y2004 Y1990 World 83 78 59 49 Asia (excluding Middle East) 82 73 47 29 China 77 70 44 23 India 86 70 33 14 Japan 100 100 100 100 GMS-5 Cambodia 41.. 17.. Lao 51.. 30.. Myanmar 78 57 77 24 Thailand 99 95 99 80 Viet Nam 85 65 61 36 Source: WRI, 2008 45
Water and Sanitation : Urban % Access to Improved Water Sources % Access to Improved Sanitation Region Y2004 Y1990 Y2004 Y1990 World 95 95 80 79 Asia (excluding Middle East) 93 94 70 61 China 93 99 69 64 India 95 89 59 45 Japan 100 100 100 100 GMS-5 Cambodia 64.. 53.. Lao 79.. 67.. Myanmar 80 86 88 48 Thailand 98 98 98 95 Viet Nam 99 90 92 58 Source: WRI, 2008 46
Water Issues (cont d) Water Pollution - Institutional problem weak enforcement Fees - too low Inappropriate wastewater treatment system 47
Water Pollution y Weak enforcement of Polluter Pays Principle 58
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 49
Thank you for your attention