17th AMME and COP-18 to AATHP: Promoting cooperation on environmental conservation

With the aims for promoting cooperation on environmental conservation among ASEAN member countries and implementing ASEAN agreements to boost cooperation for the ASEAN Agreements on transboundary smog pollution control, the 17th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME) and the 18th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (COP-18) and related meetings hosted by Lao PDR was held from 22nd to 24th August.

Myanmar delegation led by Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yi attended the meetings together with Environment Ministers of ASEAN member states and delegates of ASEAN Partner countries such as Japan, Korea, China and the U.S. The opening ceremony was held at the National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos on Wednesday morning and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Laos gave a speech.

At the meeting, Laotian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment acted as a chair and representatives of ASEAN countries delivered country statements respectively. Union Minister U Khin Maung Yi also said urban development, forest depletions along with industrial development, the impacts of climate change and natural disasters on the state’s economy, society and environment, necessary frameworks and policies for sustainable development, the role of forests for long-term existence of ecosystem and bio diversities, the establishment of community forests to remove the shifting cultivation system and reduce carbon emissions, encouraging to implementation of solar energy, hydropower and renewable energy projects in rural areas and measures for forest conservation.

The meeting focused on cooperation in regional environmental issues and further collaboration and also approved the joint declaration of ASEAN countries on climate change to be submitted by ASEAN to the UNFCCC COP-28 to be held in the UAE in November, winners of ASEAN Eco-Schools and ASEAN Youth Eco-Champions Awards and ASEAN action plans on invasive species.

In the afternoon, the 18thMeeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (COP-18) was followed. The fire Hotspot and Haze formation condition in ASEAN region, weather forecasts that may occur in the dry season and smog reduction activities by respective countries, ASEAN Cooperation Roadmap on Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (2023-2030), ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy (2023-2030) and approval of ASEAN Investment Framework for haze-free and sustainable land management and plans to transfer the agreement establishing ASEAN Coordination Center on Transboundary Haze Pollution control to the ASEAN Secretariat were discussed.

In the evening, the Union Minister attended a ceremony to transter the agreeements on ASEAN Center on Climate Chanage and establishing ASEAN Coordination Center on Transboundary Haze Pollution control to the ASEAN Secretariat.

It was followed by awarding ceremony of ASEAN Eco-Schools and ASEANYouth Eco-Champions awards and dinner celebration and the Union Minister and delegates of ASEAN countries attended. Dauk Gway village Basic Education Primary School in Kaung Kone township of Ayewyawady region was presented ASEAN Eco-School Award 2023 for primary school level and No.1 High School in Myitkyina, Kachin State was presented that for high school level. ASEAN Youth Eco-Champions Award 2023 was presented for Dr Kaung Htet Swam of Senior Category through Myanmar delegation.