118-8 Transboundary Aquifer Development and Management under Future Climate, Landuse and Demographic Changes: Perspectives from South and Southeast Asia

Session: Groundwater in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

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Transboundary aquifers are critical for ensuring water security across borders in South and Southeast Asia, where rapid socio-economic development, land use transformation, climate variability and climate change are accelerating pressure on shared groundwater resources. This keynote explores these challenges and opportunities through the lens of the Khorat Plateau Aquifer System, shared by Thailand and Lao PDR—a region emblematic of broader transboundary groundwater issues in Asia.

The Khorat Aquifer plays a pivotal role in sustaining domestic, agricultural, and industrial water demands. Yet, asymmetries in groundwater governance—ranging from Thailand’s more structured institutional framework to Lao PDR’s limited monitoring capacity—hamper coordinated management. The lack of harmonized policies and bilateral data-sharing mechanisms weakens resilience against emerging threats.

Future climate projections indicate increasing precipitation variability and temperature extremes, altering groundwater recharge dynamics. These changes, compounded by accelerated urbanization and population growth, may intensify aquifer stress, particularly during dry seasons. Urban expansion, with increasing impervious surfaces, reduces infiltration and amplifies dependence on groundwater, increasing the risks of over-extraction, land subsidence, and water quality deterioration.

Using integrated climate models (GCMs), urban growth scenarios, and stakeholder consultations, this research underscores the urgent need for transboundary governance frameworks that are adaptive, inclusive, and climate-resilient. Strategies such as managed aquifer recharge, sustainable land use planning, and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms can enhance long-term aquifer sustainability.

By reflecting on the Khorat case, this presentation draws broader lessons applicable to other transboundary aquifers in South and Southeast Asia, advocating for a paradigm shift in groundwater management—one that embraces future uncertainties, strengthens regional cooperation, and safeguards shared water resources for the SDG era.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-6904

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