Bangkok, 21 December 2007 – Rapid economic growth of recent decades is expected to continue in Greater Mekong countries, but growth must be matched with efforts to reverse negative impacts on environment if the region’s poor are to benefit, according to the Greater Mekong Environment Outlook 2007, released today in Bangkok. The report is the first collaborative assessment of the Greater Mekong sub-region’s (GMS) environment.

One of the fastest growing regions in the world, economic growth has boosted incomes and well being in many countries, particularly Thailand, Viet Nam and Yunnan. However, much of the growth has bypassed more than 70% of its rural population, many of whom are directly dependent on natural resources for livelihoods and incomes. Economic growth, coupled with growing population pressures, has also led to widespread pollution, land degradation and depletion of natural resources, the report said.

Unless addressed, these changes may cause irreversible ecosystem damage with far-reaching implications for economic activities that depend on natural resources. They may also increase the vulnerability of poor and rural populations to health threats, natural disasters, food insecurity and community fragmentation, the report added. 

“GMS countries have been fairly successful in channelling growth to raise incomes and improve livelihoods. However, people’s well being is intricately tied to ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. Any change in the quality and quantity of natural resources will inevitably have serious human impacts especially in the predominantly agrarian populations and economies of the GMS,” said Surendra Shrestha, Regional Director of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

The five countries and two provinces of the GMS – Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and the Yunnan and Guangxi provinces in southern China – are now addressing some of the root causes of environmental degradation through initiatives such as the Asian Development Bank’s GMS Program.

While water shortage is not a problem, rapid urbanization is putting pressure on existing water and sanitation systems, causing localized water shortages and pollution. At the river basin level, the Chao Phraya basin in Thailand is the only major catchment facing severe water shortages.

Water quality is also a growing concern with increasing pollution of surface and ground water from domestic, industrial and agricultural discharges. The Chao Phraya basin has high levels of pollutants while the Red River basin in Yunnan province and Viet Nam is also becoming increasingly polluted.

“Future demand for fresh water, however, will grow fastest in the residential and industrial sectors. Inevitably, as the demand from cities and industries grows, the water available for agriculture will decline. Effective management of the competition, and likely conflict, between multiple water uses and users is crucial,” the report said.

After land and water, air pollution is a growing threat, whose associated treatment and cleanup costs are a serious drain on public finances. The World Bank estimated the health costs of PM10 in six cities in Thailand (including Bangkok) in 2000 to be US$643.9 million. The health costs in Bangkok alone were equivalent to 0.5 per cent of GDP, with each resident paying an average of US$46 every year.

In urban areas, rates of waste generation are outstripping the capacity of local authorities to collect, treat and dispose waste. In Vietnam, the national rate of waste collection increased only slightly from 71 per cent in 2000 to 74 per cent in 2003. In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, nearly one million tonnes of solid waste are left uncollected every year.

In addition, the GMS harbours globally important and irreplaceable elements of biodiversity. Six ecoregions within the GMS are recognized areas of outstanding diversity. All six ecoregions are threatened by human activity, with uncontrolled logging and wildlife hunting posing two of the greatest threats. Serious threats are also posed by hunting and wildlife trade, and by the spread of some invasive species. The region could lose more than half of its remaining land and water habitats over the next century if countries fail to take any action, according to the report. The report calls for a strong mechanism for an integrated approach to address environmental challenges in the region.

“The remaining challenge is to reverse the trend of environmental degradation and secure the ability of natural resources to contribute to sustainable development. Political will and strong partnerships both within and between governments, businesses and civil society is indispensable to meeting this challenge,” said Prof. Sanit Aksornkoae, President of Thailand Environment Institute (TEI).   

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Satwant Kaur, Regional Information Officer, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Tel: + (66 2) 2882127; Mobile: + (66 8) 9086000. E-mail: kaur@un.org

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The Greater Mekong Environment Outlook is a joint publication of UNEP and Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) and provides an overview of environmental trends over the past two decades. It assesses the scope and effectiveness of national and regional policy responses, and identifies some of the main options for future action.  It is also the first collaborative assessment of the sub-region’s environment. The report can be downloaded from www.roap.unep.org.

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)
UNEP is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

THAILAND ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE (TEI)

TEI is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization active in tackling environmental problems and conserving natural resources at grassroots, national, regional and international levels.     TEI works in partnership with multi-stakeholders to make policy impacts as well as change on the ground in several areas including environmental governance, urbanization, environmental education, eco-labeling, energy conservation, climate change, clean technology, forest conservation, cultural environment, etc.
www.tei.or.th

UNEP ROAP News Release 07/17