Climate Adaptation
China’s Dam-Building Is Harming the Mekong River
The water flow of the Mekong has hit record lows, caused by a reduction in rainfall and upstream hydropower dams, according to a report.
The Mekong River at Sangkhom district in the northeastern Thai province of Nong Khai, with Laos seen on the right bank.
Photographer: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
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The Mekong is one of Asia’s most important rivers, supporting 60 million people in Southeast Asia. But for the second consecutive year, the lower Mekong basin has hit a record low water flow, affecting irrigation, rice production and fisheries, all vital to the region’s food security. The drought has also damaged habitats for turtles, reptiles and other critically endangered species.