Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivers World Environment Day address
NAY PYI TAW June 5
World Environment Day 2022 was observed at Myanmar International Convention Centre 2 (MICC-2) in Nay Pyi Taw this morning with an address delivered by Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Also present were SAC members Admiral Tin Aung San, Mahn Nyein Maung, Daw Aye Nu Sein, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, U Moung Har, U Sai Lon Hsai, U Saw Daniel, Dr Banya Aung Moe, Lt-Gen Soe Htut, U Shwe Kyein, Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, the Nay Pyi Taw Command commander, deputy ministers, Nay Pyi Taw Council members,
permanent secretaries, directors general, managing directors and rectors of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and related ministries, officials, teachers and students of basic education high schools in Nay Pyi Taw and prize-winners.
The Senior General said “Only One Earth” is the theme of this year’s World Environment Day, which falls today. The theme focuses on mankind’s adaptation to a sustainable and greener environment or in other words, living sustainably in harmony with nature, and the knowledge about changing global environment and timely response and the collective action to protect and restore our one and only planet. In 1972, world countries gathered in Stockholm (Sweden) to hold the UN United Nations Conference on Human Environment, which was the first international meeting on the environment.
This year is the significant 50th anniversary.
The sixth Global Environment Outlook (2019) issued by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) states that as urban population of the word continues to rise, the absence of systematic urban management will invite social and environmental challenges, population growth will lessen ecosystem services for individuals, failure to notice the importance of environmental programs in businesses will lead to greater loss and deterioration of natural resources and environment, and climate change is an obstacle and a challenge for future economy.
It also calls for action to address them. Like its global counterparts, Myanmar should strive to mitigate the negative impacts of environment deterioration and climate change.
This year’s World Environment Day urges global countries to lay down appropriate policies to address the three areas, which are, – climate change, ecosystem deterioration, and pollution, and to enhance nationwise, regional and international cooperation.
Agriculture is the backbone of the national economy. But agro-production falls due to adverse climatic conditions such as shorter monsoon season, annual rise in temperatures and saltwater intrusion in coastal area croplands. Moreover, loss of croplands due to rising sea levels and soil erosion has an adverse impact on the locals and national economy.
Hence, crops that need less water and can withstand floods and pests, crops that are suitable to the weather conditions, and irrigation systems that save water are being utilized to face the consequences of climate change.
Farming is the main food producer and also plays the pivotal role in increasing meat consumption as a way of changing lifestyles. As animal organic fertilizers are useful, health and environment friendly farming must be developed to alleviate negative impact on the environment.
According to “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020” issued by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the fishery industry will take the pivotal role in future food sufficiency and the protection of freshwater and sea resources is an important task to guarantee jobs and ensure food sufficiency in the future.
In this regard, the relevant departments and private organizations and the public should join hands to stop illegal fishing to prevent fish depletion and for the sustainability of fish resources and their ecosystem, and to save the watercourses and seas from pollution caused by waste matter and wastewater.
In encouraging renewable energy for power generation, more investments must be made for clean energy including the existing hydropower, solar power, wind power. As renewable energy will ensure adequate electricity for socioeconomic development and continuously conserve the environment, electricity generation should be based on it.
As a member of the UN Framework Convention on Climaten Change (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreement, Myanmar is seriously implementing their provisions.
In the endeavours to put 30 percent of the country’s land areas under forest ecosystem and resources conservation project in 2030, the country now has already set up 25.8 percent of the planned natural forest reserves and buffer zones, and turned 6.43 percent of the country’s areas into protected areas against the target of 10 percent.
Efforts are underway to meet the target.
Although extraction of natural resources contributes to creation of job opportunities and increasing incomes not only for the State but for citizens, it is noticeable that if it does not consider environmental conservation, it will severely damage the environment. Hence, it is necessary to reduce reliance of businesses on products of underground and above ground natural resources. Myanmar suspends export of timber logs to foreign market. Likewise, timber extraction was also suspended in mini budget of 2021-2022 fiscal year and 2022-2023 FY. Similarly, excavation of jade was also suspended in Lonkhin, Phakant and Mohnyin regions. In extracting natural resources for the interests of the State and citizens, emphasis must be placed on extraction of natural resources under the policies of environment adopted by the government.
The survey of the UNEP stated that some seven million of global people lose their lives on a yearly basis due to environmental pollution and air pollution.
The global people dispose 11.2 billion tons of waste yearly, eight million tons of which flow into seas and oceans, causing environmental pollution.
There are more than 100,000 items of chemicals and elements used by the humans across the world. If chemicals are systematically used, it will severely affect the health of the humans and environmental pollution.
Hence, all need to manage systematic use of chemicals.
Currently, the United Nations Environment Assembly UNEA 5-2 took place in March this year for eradication of the plastic pollution which is one of the global problems. At the assembly, participants agreed to implement the international convention without attachment of laws. Hence, responsible persons from all sectors need to adopt the plans for controlling the plastic pollution in Myanmar
and abide by it. People need to use plastic packaging and usages on unavoidable occasions.
In line with the arrangements of reuse, reduce and recircle, relevant departments need to urge all people to abide by the disciplines for benefiting the people.
Systematic management of waste is of great importance to control the pollutions. Hence, development organizations and relevant departments must effectively implement the national waste management strategy and the master plan adopted by the government.
The nature-based solutions-NBS is important for preventing the environmental problems and recovering the situations to normalcy. As such solving process is based on nature, it can be conformed to important ecological services, biodiversity and supply of fresh water, better livelihoods and healthily sustainable food security as well as encouraged the harmony between the humans and nature and people-centred response to the climate change.
Increasing investments in the green economy, for instance:
generating electricity from solar energy, ecotourism and manufacturing of electric cars can ensure betterment of natural investments of the State,environmental conservation, and benefit of social, economic and environmental benefits.
In implementing the sustainable development of the State under the frameworks of Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan- MSDP, short and long term plans are to be realized in all sectors for successfully implementing the national environmental policies and basic principles adopted by the State for controlling the clean environments and better ecosystem in order to bring healthiness and happiness to the people residing in Myanmar.
With regard to environmental conservation, development tasks must be added with environmental issued for harmony with environment, synchronized development, encouragement to investment for green economy which lessens carbon production without harming the environment, improvement of climate conditions, conservation of ecosystems and prevention of pollution including waste management. In so doing, all the people and local and foreign organizations are to participate in the perpetual existence of the globe.
A video message sent by the UN Secretary-General and one more video message by the UNEP Executive Director were presented.
The Senior General presented the first prize to Daw Moe Moe Thwin (Yanant Cho-Hinthada), the second to Daw Nyein Nyein Sanda Win (Amara), the third to Daw Nu Nu Aye (Nu Nu Aye Zalun) in the essay contest to mark the World Environment Day and the first, second and third prizes to U Akar San (Akar San), U Zaw Lwin Oo (Zaw Lwin Oo Hinthada) and U Maung Than Nyunt (Sein Nyo Aung) in the article contest.
Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yi presented the environmental sustainable development city award to deputy director U Ye Naing of NyaungU Township Development Committee.
The video on education about 2022 World Environment Day was presented, and the ceremony came to an end. They then posed for group photos.
The Senior General and party interestingly viewed round the booths to mark the World Environment Day.