Preliminary findings from a soon-to-be released comprehensive report have reinforced dismal projections for the future of Cambodia’s fisheries if 11 planned mainstream hydropower dams are built on the Mekong River.

The National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting has reported unusual flooding in the Red River in northern Vietnam since October 11 following heavy inflows from China, where massive volumes of water have allegedly been discharged from dams.

International experts have warned that the atmosphere in Vietnam may become as polluted as that in Beijing, China now when the Southeast Asian country increases the number of coal-powered thermoelectricity plants from the current 12 to 70 in 2030.

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam continues to open thermal power plants despite a warning about pollution and the lack of coal in the future.

VietNamNet Bridge - Research has shown how to use coal residue to make building materials, but thermal power plants have not applied the findings on a large scale.

Jakarta, Indonesia - Existing coal plants in Indonesia cause an estimated 7,100 premature deaths every year according to research by Harvard University and Greenpeace Southeast Asia – the first of its kind to look at illness and deaths associated with Indonesia’s coal-fired power plants.

Climate change, regional integration and safeguards were highlighted by speakers at a SUMERNET roundtable at the regional symposium on the role of social and environmental safeguards held by the Mekong Partnership for the Environment (MPE) in Bangkok on 25-27 August 2015.

All of Myamar’s planned coal-fired power projects are likely to be delayed beyond the general election, which is set to be held on November 8, according to officials.

HA NOI(VNS)  — Viet Nam plans to reduce its ownership stakes in some state energy companies, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said earlier this week.

In a month spent traveling through Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, I found a remarkable disconnect between the concerns of academic critics and NGOs about the Mekong River's future and the public attitude of governments already engaged in dam-building.