Environment and natural resources
Locals want a disruptive dam project in Northern Myanmar terminated once and for all

It has now been five years since the Myitsone Dam project in Northern Myanmar was suspended, but a local ethnic Kachin man, Mung Ra, is still not satisfied. He wishes that the project had been entirely terminated. He frequently laments the loss of his farm and ...
Việt Nam, Thailand work to ensure Mekong river water usage

Việt Nam and Thailand will work closely with each other and with international organisations to use and manage Mekong river water resources efficiently to ensure the interests of the river basin nations. That was agreed by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister ...
One in nine has no access to clean water

Every year during the wet season, millions of Cambodians are surrounded by water as the Mekong River floods. Yet the water is unsafe to drink, fouled by sewage and agricultural and industrial pollution. Living in villages on stilts, Cambodians bathe, fish and defecate in the flooded ...
Residents fear restart of coal power plant

A coal-fired power plant in southern Shan State that was shut down two years ago due to residents’ complaints may be reopening, despite the opposition of the local community, villagers say. They are already accusing local officials of breaking their promises. Test operations at the plant, ...
Ministry names 30 environmentally unfriendly projects

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has announced a list of 30 thermal electricity, hydropower, chemical and mining projects that are posing risks to the environment. Among the environmentally unfriendly projects are thermal power plants Thai Binh 1, Vinh Tan 2, Vinh Tan 4, expanded Vinh ...
Chàm Island to protect biodiversity

The Centre of Biodiversity Conservation, GreenViet and the Management Board of Chàm Island has inked an Memorandum of Understanding on the protection of flora and fauna in the forest of the island. The Management Board said the MoU will allow surveying of the current terrestrial plants ...
Gov’t names 27 potential polluters

Up to 27 projects of seven State corporations are listed in a Ministry of Industry and Trade’s directive as being liable to cause environmental pollution. In the directive on strengthening environmental protection issued this week, Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh requested all relevant ...
Vanishing Mekong? shifting tropical storms threaten a great river delta

Recent changes in the patterns of tropical storms are threatening the future of the Mekong River delta in Vietnam. This is one of the world’s great deltas. It is home to more than 20m people and the rice that is grown on its fertile land ...
PM announces continued suspension of mining concessions

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said on October 19 the government will maintain the moratorium on new mining concessions because it needs more time to inspect a number of operations. The prime minister was speaking at a three-day conference taking place at the National Convention Centre for mining ...
China may give Filipino fishermen access to Scarborough - sources

China will consider giving Filipino fishermen conditional access to disputed waters in the South China Sea after the presidents of the two countries meet in Beijing this week, two Chinese sources with ties to the leadership said. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte plans to raise the plight ...