Mekong floods highlight new climate reality in the region

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – In the last week of September, Cambodia experienced heavy rainfall brought by the southwest monsoon and low pressure in the Mekong Basin, resulting in floods in many parts of the country.

Even Phnom Penh was not spared. In the Koh Norea riverside, the capital’s latest rendezvous site, flooding affected street and road-level businesses as stores closed and others moved their operations to higher ground. 

Vendors were concerned about public safety and the potential loss of income due to fewer customers at the time. While crowds gathered to view the floods, vendors reported a drop in sales. They were worried about their livelihood if the flooding continued, particularly with more rain forecast in the coming weeks.

“Who is not worried about this flooding?” said vendor Han Hok on September 25.  

“Particularly us who earn money here. I cannot predict whether more people will come or not, but I am worried if the situation does not get better, then my income will drop and affect me because this is my livelihood and helps to pay my bank debt,” she added.

Temperamental weather conditions with heavy rain and drought highlight the Mekong region’s vulnerability to climate change, with experts calling for better water management and regional cooperation to protect communities.

Water diplomacy platform

In neighboring Laos, the second ASEAN-Mekong River Commission (MRC) Water Security Dialogue brought together high-ranking ASEAN delegates, as well as development partners to discuss crucial water security issues.

The Water Security Dialogue stressed the urgent need to address water and food security in ASEAN and the Mekong region through increased investment and cooperation, with both ASEAN and the MRC playing key roles.

“ASEAN has been instrumental in fostering political dialogue and connectivity, while the MRC serves as a trusted ‘regional knowledge hub’, mature ‘water diplomacy platform’ and a successful model of transboundary water cooperation in the Mekong region,” it said in a statement released on September 18.

‘This year is a wet year’

MRC’s chief executive officer Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun said that after a surprise drought, Typhoon Yagi caused severe flooding in the Mekong region. The MRC is monitoring the situation, providing forecasts to impacted countries, and coordinating with Laos and China to mitigate the damage, he said.

“The long-term solution is both infrastructure and nature-based because in the Mekong we have the least storage [compared to other] rivers in the world,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the dialogue late September.

So, while rivers like the Mississippi possess substantial storage capacity — either through natural or man-made dams — the Mekong River lacks them. Hydro dams on the Mekong have limited storage, with only around 14-15% of the annual flow, and therefore “cannot significantly mitigate major storms,” Kittikhoun said.

“So when a huge storm comes, you have to deal with it and try to ensure that the dams don’t add to the problems,” he added, advocating for increased investment in both man-made and natural storage solutions to address the challenge.

Kittikhoun said MRC supports development projects while balancing environmental concerns. Transparency, data sharing, and community input are crucial to minimize the impact of projects like dams and irrigation, which inevitably alter the river’s natural state.

‘Yagi is unlikely the last typhoon of 2024’

Brian Eyler, Southeast Asia programme director at Stimson Center in Washington DC, said the recent wet season, marked by drought and extreme weather, revealed a future where climate change intensified those conditions. 

The Mekong River is experiencing a climate crisis — drought in the lower region impacts Cambodia’s fisheries while Typhoon Yagi has caused devastating floods upstream. This highlights the urgent need for climate adaptation measures, Eyler said.

“And Yagi is unlikely to be the last typhoon of 2024. These storms are becoming intense due to climate change because higher air temperatures can hold more water, and are more destructive,” Eyler said via email dated September 25.

The Mekong region needs better flood and drought management. Wet season droughts, worsened by climate change and upstream dams, are harming the Tonle Sap, Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, and its fisheries, Eyler said.

Droughts in the Tonle Sap are caused by both climate change and upstream dam restrictions. Improved transboundary water management, especially regarding dam operation, could mitigate these droughts and ensure larger fish catches for Cambodia, he added. 

Climate risks, new reality

Transboundary flood management is also crucial, particularly for Mekong tributaries. Improved communication and early warning systems are vital for preparedness, as evidenced by the recent Typhoon Yagi flooding. The MRC needs clearer mandates and stronger coordination with member countries to effectively address these challenges, Eyler said. 

Wet season drought can be mitigated by smarter transboundary water management, including Tonle Sap expansion targets and coordinated dam operation in China and Laos, Eyler said.

Mekong River countries must prioritize climate resilience and transboundary water management, particularly with China and Laos, to protect vital ecosystems like the Tonle Sap. Increased climate risks like extreme heat, floods, and fires require urgent action and regional cooperation, he said.

Meanwhile, the US said the Mekong River is crucial for the livelihoods of millions, but climate change is threatening the region, spokesperson of the US embassy in Cambodia Wesley Holzer said in an email on September 18.

Holzer said Mekong countries must improve river management and build climate resilience through better dam operation, early warning systems, and multilateral cooperation. 

To build climate resilience, Mekong countries need to improve disaster preparedness, infrastructure, and public awareness, while also increasing access to resources like crop insurance and water. The US, via the United States Agency for International Development, supports these goals with programs focused on climate-smart agriculture, conservation, and geospatial data. – Rappler.com

Prak Chan Thul, Kiripost‘s Editor-in-Chief, is a seasoned journalist with over two decades of experience, including 14 years at Reuters. He is one of Rappler’s #FactsMatter Fellows for 2024.