This book explores how the Nam Then 2 (NT2) dam, the largest dam in Laos PDR, came to be built, and how it helped the Government of Lao PDR break ground in attracting private finance for the build-own-operate dam schemes that are a feature of hydropower development in present day Laos. With the NT2, the World Bank and the GoL took the first steps on the dam-building program that has brought us to where we are now: more than 72 new large dams, 12 under construction and 25 in advanced planning in Laos, many involving private-public partnerships. 

The collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam hydropower dam in Sanamxay district of Attapeu Province, Lao PDR on July 23 is a major tragedy that took the lives of at least 34 Laotians, with at least 100 more still missing and thousands displaced. The question is: was this a failure to plan and account for ‘extreme’ monsoon rain events, or a failure of dam-building implementation? This opinion piece states that meaningful public participation in planning must be recognized as an important facet of risk reduction and impact mitigation. 

This policy booklet provides policy recommendations on key sustainable development issues in the Mekong Region that were explored by the collaborative research projects of SUMERNET in phase 3 (2014-2017). The briefings are written by our research partners focusing on the policy relevancy of their research projects and based on the engagement of the project teams with local and national policymakers. 

This report seeks to address a major research gap by adopting an intersectionality approach to better understand the different climate risks, vulnerabilities, adaptation and resilience among people of different ages and different genders. In particular, this report aims to shed light on the specific climate change challenges faced by young women and girls in Northern Thailand whose experiences are not only influenced by age and gender, but also by poverty, legal status, ethnicity, language and education.

SEI will hold a biodiversity training and media workshop for Myanmar in Monywa from 15-17 August 2018. The workshop is co-organized by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Myanmar Environment Institute (MEI). Environment Institute (SEI) and Myanmar Environment Institute (MEI).

The UN progress report on SDGs for the Asia-Pacific region shows that the region is lagging behind on almost two-thirds of the sustainable development targets. 

As the Environment Ministers of Mekong Region countries met in Chiang Mai, Thailand in early February, to approve the Asian Development Bank Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) Core Environmental Program Strategic Framework and Action Plan 2018-2022, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) of Thailand has emphasized the importance of balancing development with the environment. 

As uncertainty and extremes in water availability become the norm in the Mekong region, SUMERNET researchers are joining with policymakers to explore ways to deal with water insecurity, especially for the most vulnerable people.