Thailand: The second day of the 4th Tibet Environment Conference on Tibet discussed Tibet’s significance as the ‘Water Tower of Asia’.
Seven distinguished speakers from different Southeast Asian countries spoke at three different panels organised by the Tibet Policy Institute and co-hosted by the Social Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University.
Ranging from harnessing traditional knowledge of climate resilience in Himalayan Communities to the impact of the Tibetan Plateau on the onset of the Southeast Asian Summer Monsoon, speakers have highlighted the ecological importance of the Tibetan Plateau in different panels and the needs of Tibet in the global climate conversation and importance of public participation.

Concluding session was honored by a valedictory address from Professor Surichai Wun Gaeo, former director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Chulalongkorn University
The concluding session on the 28th of November was honoured by a valedictory address from Professor Surichai Wun, Gaeo, former director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Chulalongkorn University where he stated, that the water issues that are faced today are not responsible by a single country and stressed it was the responsibility of all countries to integrate and overcome the challenges together to save the rivers.
Dr. Surangrut Jumnianpol, from the Social Research Institute, gave an example of Thailand and the Mekong River, and the implication resulted from the excessive mining in the Tibetan Plateau towards the downstream countries.
Dr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya argued that this conference serves as a realisation for all the Southeast and Asian countries to work together for future river security. He distributed tokens of appreciation to the speakers and the organising team. Dechen Palmo, a research fellow at TPI delivered a thank you note.
-Report filed by TPI