Understanding of Hydropower Development in the Greater Mekong: A Sustainable Pathway or an Unacceptable Cost?

Since the 1960s, hydropower has been seen as key to poverty reduction, energy security, and economic growth in the Mekong region. However, uncontrolled construction on the river’s mainstream and tributaries poses significant risks to safety, economy, human rights, and the environment, prompting concerns about the true “sustainability” of hydropower development. In the scope of this study, the author focuses on the energy development policy of the Greater Mekong Subregion and emphasizes the importance of assessing the long-term impacts on multiple aspects, especially the cross-border environmental impacts of mega-hydropower construction on the Mekong mainstream to ensure the sustainable development goals that this region is aiming for.