The European Union and Myanmar has committed to strengthening cooperation on climate change ahead of the adoption of a new global climate deal in Paris this December according to an EU press release on 2 November.
In a workshop on climate change, held on 2 November, the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry together with key line ministries, civil society representatives, the private sector, along with the EU and other development partners, discussed the draft National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in Myanmar. In addition to taking stock of the progress so far, key elements of the strategy and action plan were agreed upon by the participants with a view of presenting these at the Paris conference.
The National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan is supported by the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance, a flagship programme of the Government of Myanmar to increase its institutional and technical capacities to address climate change. This EU-funded programme which is being jointly implemented by United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stretches over four years and focuses on raising the awareness around climate change and making sure government policies, plans and activities take climate change into consideration.
Isabel Faria de Almeida, EU Head of Development Cooperation in Myanmar said: "The effects of climate change are felt all over the world as the weather gets more extreme. The Paris conference is a historic opportunity to combat this by accelerating the shift to a low-carbon, climate-resilient global economy. People around the world are looking to their leaders for a signal that they are ready and willing to take decisive action to tackle climate change. The EU and its Member States are committed to taking on a leading role and we are working with our partners, including Myanmar, to ensure that Paris is a success."
Virtually all countries of the world will gather together at the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December to conclude a new global climate change agreement. The EU is committed to ensuring the adoption of a legally binding, ambitious and fair international agreement applicable to all countries that is capable of keeping the global average temperature rise below 2°C and avoiding dangerous climate change.
