Nathanial Matthews, King's College London, , nathanial@acquacon.com.br
Abstract
Water and Energy security in the Mekong Basin The Mekong River is the 12th longest in the world, stretching over 4300 kilometers and draining a basin just under 800,000 km². Through agriculture, fisheries and forestry the Mekong sustains the livelihoods of millions of people and is home to a wealth of bio‐cultural diversity. The Mekong is also a river under threat. Dozens of dams are being constructed on Mekong tributaries and there are plans for 11 mainstream dams to be constructed on the lower Mekong in Thailand, Lao and Cambodia. These dams, which are increasingly funded by private investment, are part of a renewed dam building agenda in the region designed to usher in modernization and development to some of the poorest states. However, much of the dam construction is progressing with an alarming disregard for local livelihoods and the environment. This case uses impact assessments as a lens to explore the interconnections between energy demand, development and water security in the Mekong Basin