Environment and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Myanmar SAN WIN Assistant Director Environmental Conservation Department 23 August, 2014
Presentation Outlines Background and Environmental Governance System Policy Natural Disasters in Myanmar Climate Change Movements in Myanmar Challenges and Gaps The future Plan
Background of ECD Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MOECAF) has been upgraded in place of Ministry of Forestry in September 2011 as the focal point for the overall environmental management in the country, coordinating agency for environmental matters and promoting environmentally sustainable development. The Environmental Conservation Department (ECD) is playing as key government agency under the MOECAF since Oct 2012 for the effective implementation of environmental conservation and management in Myanmar.
Environmental Governance 5 Working Committee under (ECC) (March 2014) ECC Policy, Law, Rules, Procedures and Quality Standard Working Committee Industry Planning, Urban and Rural Working Committee Natural Resource and Cultural Heritage Conservation Working Committee CC Adaptation and Mitigation Working Committee Environment al Education and Awareness Raising Working Committee
Environmental Governance Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry (MOECAF) MOE CAF Planning & Statistics Departme nt Forest Departme nt Myanma r Timber Enterpri se Environmental Conservation Department Dry Zone Greening Departme nt Land Survey Department
Environmental Governance Environmental Conservation Department Environmental Conservation Department (156 + 247) Administration (11 + 36) Policy, Int. Relation, Res. and Training (13 + 11) Pollution Control (11+9) Natural Resources & EIA (12+9) State & Region (107+182) Admin Policy & Planning Urban & Industries Natural Res. Cons. Budget Int. Relation & Res & Train. Env. Quality EIA Climate Change
Environmental Governance Mandate of ECD To implement National Environmental Policy To develop Short, Medium and Long Term Strategy, Policy and Planning and Action Plan for the integration of environmental consideration into in the sustainable development process To manage natural resources conservation and sustainable utilization To manage the pollution control on water, air and land for the sustainable environment To cooperate with Gov Organizations, Civil Society, Private and International Organization concerning with Environmental Management
Environmental Governance 1. Policy, International relation, Research and Training Division ECD To develop planning and its implementation, review and report To develop legislation related to regulations, guidelines and -- To manage the contribution for the environmental conservation activities To report for the permission to establish industry and projects To develop plan of climate change mitigation and adaptation, of combat to desertification and ozone layer protection To do national report in relation with international agreements To do research and development and extension To implement, coordinate and mainstream Climate Chang Adaptation and Mitigation measures (MCCA, CC Policy, Strategic Framework, Action Plan, International Agreement, Intl Cooperation)
Environmental Governance - To lay down guidelines to promote clean development technology in industries - To systematic management of industrial waste in industry estate including hazardous waste - To promote modern technology for waste collection, treatment and recycle - Monitoring the pollution Environmental quality To conduct assessment of environmental quality To develop the environmental quality standards closely coordination with relevant agencies To manage waste for the prevention of pollution
Environmental Governance Natural resources conservation Assessment of natural resources cooperated with relevant Departments To conserve ecosystem, nature reserve, biodiversity To conserve the wetland and river for sustainability EIA To develop EIA procedure and regulation to minimize the impacts To monitor the implementation of environment conservation To report the review on EIA report deal with proposed project
Policy formulation Environmental Policy (1994) Myanmar Agenda 21 (1997) National Sustainable Development Strategy NSDS (2009) Environmental Conservation Law (2012) Environmental Conservation Rules (2014)
Environmental Policy National Environmental Policy (1994) To achieve harmony and balance between socioeconomic, natural resources and environment through the integration of environmental considerations into the development process enhancing the quality of the life of all its citizens. Environmental protection is should always be the primary objective in seeking development
Environmental Policy (cont.) Myanmar Agenda 21 (1997) To mobilize and focus national efforts to achieve sustainable development. To facilitate the incorporation of environmental considerations in the development process of the economic and social sectors.
Environmental Policy (cont.) National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSDS) Guiding document to implement in harmony among the 3 pillars of environment, economic and social sectors. Three goals identified are: - Sustainable management of natural resources; - Integrated economic development; and - Sustainable social development.
Environmental Policy (cont.) Environmental Conservation Law promulgated on 30 March 2012. The highlights: To establish Integrated Environmental Monitoring System - Environmental Impact Assessment in the developing projects to incorporate environmental management plan for the mitigation of environmental impacts. To develop the standards for Environmental quality To encourage green initiatives to adopt its strategies and action plan for mainstreaming into the development sectors (PES, PPS, REDD+)
Related Policy and Strategies and Plan Constitution (2008) Environmental Policy (1994) Myanmar Agenda 21 (1997) National Sustainable Development Strategy (2009) Environmental Conservation Law (2012) Environmental Conservation Rules (2014) EIA Procedures (Drafted) Sectoral Laws and Policies MAPDRR (2012) National Adaptation Programme of Action - NAPA (2012) National Road Map for REDD+ strategy
Some of Sectoral Policies Agriculture and Irrigation Policy (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation) Coal Policy (Ministry of Mines) Electric power policy Ministry of Electric Power) Science and technology policy (Ministry of Science and Technology) Forest Policy (Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry) Foreign Investment Law; Myanmar citizens investment law; Special economic zone law; Dawei special economic zone law
Climate Change Commitments Signed UNFCCC on 11 June 1992 and UNFCCC on 25 November 1994. Ratified on Kyoto Protocol in 2003. ratified on Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry and Ministry of Transport are focal points for UNFCCC.
Bio-diversity National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) As the commitment of the Convention, the National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) has been developed in cooperation with UNEP. 8 Priority areas Agriculture Early Warning System Forest Public Health Water Resource Coastal Zone Energy and Industry
Initial National Communication-INC Initial National Communication-INC The Initial National Communication (INC) has been implemented with the technical assistance of UNEP funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) which has been submitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat in December 2012. Priority sectors identified for the climate change concerns Energy, Industry, Agriculture and Livestock, Land use change and forestry, and Waste sector. ECD, MOECAF is now preparing to implement the Second National Communication (SNC) project with cooperation of UNEP.
Myanmar Climate Change Alliance Programme (MCCA) jointly being implemented by MOECAF, EU and UN-Habitat, GCCA Objectives to mainstream climate change into the Myanmar policy development and reform agenda, to prepare National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan integrating climate change in the development planning. MCCA, chaired by Minister of MOECAF, has been formed with 28 members from 22 ministries, attorney general office, and city development committees in October 2013.
Institution MCCA s TOR To mainstream climate Change into reform strategy and development policy To supervise the develop National Climate Change Policy, Strategy and Action Plan To encourage the capacity building and to identify the climate change adaptation and mitigation measures To disseminate CC information, coordinate among different institutions, and carry out awareness programme To cooperate with INGOs To establish technical working group (TWG) To establish CC Core Unit
Natural Disasters in Myanmar Meteorological Disaster Cyclone Hydrological Disaster Flood Drought Geological Disaster Earthquake Tsunami
Sustainable Development Approach: Opportunities/Challenges?
Opportunities Political Willingness Policy Guidance by President is to work for Economic Development in Parallel with Environmental Conservation National Development Planning As procedures of MIC, Requirement of Environmental Clearance for approval of the proposed projects Environmental conservation is included in the National Plan for Rural development and Poverty alleviation People awareness People are great attention on environmental conservation for their livelihood development and their safety
Policy guidelines for Environmental conservation To conserve Forests and Biodiversity To reduce Air and Water pollution To control of Industrial Waste To extend Renewable Energy To mobilize Participation of people and social organizations To lay down new policy for economic development in parallel with environmental conservation To review and amend laws and enact new laws on environmental conservation
National Plan for Rural development and Poverty alleviation Environmental conservation: One of 8 Development sectors: Agriculture Livestock, Breeding and Fishery Cottage industry Micro saving and Credit Rural cooperative task Rural socio economic Rural energy
Challenges National Economy Development is highly rely on exploitation of natural resources in terms of Mining, Oil and Gas, Aquatic, Forest Resources Development projects in terms of Dams for Hydropower and Agriculture, Highways, Industries and Special Economic Zones and Urbanization are largely increasing. Leading to cause resource degradation, ecosystem and loss of habitat and biodiversity Increasing Investments from Transformation of Natural Resources based Economy to Industrial-based Economy Leading to cause environmental pollutions Global Climate Change Poverty Limited Institutional Capacity and Technology Poor coordination Sustainability of Finance
Environnemental Issues Seven key priority areas of environmental issues are identified through Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA-2009): Forest Resources Degradation Biodiversity Degradation Land Degradation Water Resources and Quality degradation Land use Waste Extractive Industries Climate change
Gaps 1. Policy Formulation -Integration and mainstreaming environmental management in national development plan -Environmental management framework -Environmental guidelines including key sectors 2. Capacity building and institutional strengthening -Human resource in technical skills -Institution -Technique 3. Implementation - Master Action Plan to mainstream into national development planning - Finance - Coordination
Future Plan for Environmental Management Policy, Guidelines and Planning Developing National Environmental Policy, Framework and Action Plan Laying down the integrated environmental policy, regulations and guidelines Developing Environmental Quality Standard
Future Plan for Environmental Management Environmental pollution control Improvement of Capacity building programs Waste management framework and action plan Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Environmental data assessment in different sectors
Future Plan for Environmental Management Capacity Development Strengthening coordination mechanism such as ECC, Monitoring Committee and etc. Institutional Capacity both human resources and infrastructure of ECD and line ministries and NGOs and Civil Society
Thank you