湄公河下游水资源开发与环境保护--各国政策取向与流域治理

Water Resources Development and Environmental Protection in Lower Mekong Basin:Policy Options and Basin Governance

作为世界上水资源最为丰富的河流之一,湄公河水电开发一方面符合流域国家的共同利益,通过水电大坝建设促进经济发展的趋势不可避免;但另一方面,下游国家也会长期面临环境保护的压力。如何妥善处理水资源开发与环境保护之间的关系、在上下游国家之间合理分配成本与收益,将成为影响流域国家间关系的重要议题。在水电资源开发与生态环境保护关系问题上,国际社会和业界专家基于不同的立场,并没有达成一致意见。但可以肯定的是,在大坝规划和建设中更加注重保护生态环境,更多地体现受影响群体在利益分享中的诉求已是大势所趋,同时也为大坝建设国和相关行为体的水资源管理能力提出了更高的要求。然而,湄公河下游国家在水资源管理方面仍存在若干不足,阻碍了流域综合治理的实现,主要表现在以下方面:下游各国的利益诉求不甚统一;作为流域唯一的专门水资源管理机构,湄公河委员会的权威性不足;国际非政府组织和域外国家的介入等。中国作为湄公河上游国家,应及时把握下游水电开发的新动向,客观分析下游各国的不同利益诉求,积极参与流域环境保护。

Mekong River's hydropower development meets the common demands of thebasin countries while the lower countries also face the environmental pressure in the long run.It is important for basin countries to balance hydropower development and environmental protection and share benefits.Currently,the lower basin countries is still weak in water resources management due to the factors like the inconsistence of benefit demands among basin countries,the lack of authority of Mekong River Commission,and the involvement of NGOs and extra-regional countries.As an upstream country,China should grasp the new trend of lower hydropower development,respect the benefit demands of lower basin countries,and actively participate in the basin environmental protection and governance.