Thirst for power – the rivers of conflict in Southeast Asia

The Provocations lecture, ‘Thirst for Power – the rivers of conflict in Southeast Asia’, explored water security challenges and innovative community solutions in both Australia and Southeast Asia. Presented by Professor Lee Baumgartner, Executive Director of the Gulbali Institute for Agriculture, Water and Environment at Charles Sturt University, in partnership with the Western NSW Branch of the Royal Society of NSW, the lecture emphasised the need for future water management to integrate technical solutions, sound policy and inclusive water-sharing strategies. This is particularly crucial in Australia, the driest inhabited continent, and Southeast Asia, where millions depend on healthy rivers.

The lecture also addressed the water consumption involved in fast fashion manufacturing in Southeast Asia, urging consumers to make informed choices when purchasing clothing. Highlighting the adverse environmental outcomes and the impact of climate change, Professor Baumgartner concluded that without intervention, water security in these regions will face heightened competition for increasingly scarce resources.