Environmental Conservation Committee holds its first meeting

The first coordination meeting of the Environmental Conservation Committee was held in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
At the meeting, Chairman of the Committee Union minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yi said that the value of global ecosystem services is losing between $4 trillion and $20 trillion annually due to the lack of protection of the environment and ecosystems, according to the 6th Global Environment Outlook.
Due to environmental pollution, $4.6 trillion are lost annually, accounting for 6.2 per cent of global economic output. At least nine million people die every year from air and water pollution and 29 per cent of the world’s land area is degraded, affecting the livelihood of 1.3 billion to 3.2 billion people, he said.
Extreme weather events cost $ 127 billion annually and it is important to have a strong environmental governance that all stakeholders can work together to address the problems of environmental pollution and climate change, the Union minister highlighted.
He said that Myanmar is developing the country in various fields based on agriculture and livestock, and environmental protection activities should be integrated in economic and social development activities under the leadership of the committee. He added the necessity to incorporate Myanmar climate change policy, strategic and core action plans into relevant sectoral projects.
He called on relevant development departments in Nay Pyi Taw, regions/states to systematically manage the action plans and policy of Myanmar’s National Waste Management for the systematic management of waste hazards. He stressed the importance of the cooperation of the non-governmental organizations, private sector, and the people in reducing current/future environmental degradation and adverse effects of climate change. He also added that awareness-raising should be a key part of the ongoing process, as well as environmental compliance.
The meeting discussed the implementation of the committee and further plans of each sector in relation to environmental issues and climate change. After the meeting, the Union minister attended the Central Committee Meeting of Myanmar Gems Emporium. — MNA