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Description: "THE IMPACT of climate change in Myanmar is likely to be immense and will play out in multi-dimensional ways. Beyond that, though, it is difficult to predict. In remote, upland areas of the country that are controlled or influenced by ethnic armed groups, political, economic and social trajectories are likely to diverge from the rest of Myanmar. Already, in some parts of the country, the monsoon – which provides most of the rainfall for agriculture on which about 70 percent of the population depends – is up to 30 days shorter, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Upland areas are projected to experience particularly steep rises in average temperatures, with devastating impacts on harvests, livelihoods and possibly the bare sustainability of human life. However, upland areas will be less severely affected by the rising sea levels that could destroy coastal areas. Myanmar is among the countries most vulnerable to rising sea levels. Low-lying farmland, such as in the Ayeyarwady delta, is at risk of flooding and salination, as well as being exposed to extreme weather, such as the devastation wrought by Cyclone Nargis in 2008. Neighbouring Bangladesh faces the same dangers, and in the not too distant future millions of Bangladeshis may become climate change refugees. Many of them may have little choice but to head east to Myanmar, as well as north and west to India. Combined with the domestic impacts of climate change, this would be highly destabilising, and could even undermine the viability of the state. Although not much discussed in the mainstream media, the possibility of climate change severely disrupting the basic parameters of modern social and economic life cannot be discounted. In this context, Myanmar's ethnic armed groups may receive a new lease of life. In Southeast Asia since the end of the Cold War, the viability of armed struggle by insurgent groups to achieve political goals has been in decline. Only in Myanmar and the Philippines do significant non-state armed groups remain active. Amid a failing peace process, and despite their political legitimacy among many conflict-affected communities, ethnic armed groups in Myanmar are struggling to demonstrate continued political relevance. However, they may experience a revival in fortunes if the state in Myanmar is severely weakened by the impact of climate change..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Myanmar Water Portal via "Frontier Myanmar"
2019-07-12
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "Warming of the Earth's climate system is evident from the observed increases in the average global air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level. Weather events of all kinds are getting more extreme. In arid areas, droughts and wildfires intensify. Number of cold days and nights decreases, while winter temperatures and precipitation become more extreme. Cities experience more frequent and extreme heat waves. Temperatures will continue to rise in future. Most scientists agree on the "threshold" of a 2°C increase in global average temperature on the pre-industrial levels, above which humans and nature will not be able to cope with the negative effects of climate change. Myanmar is already experiencing significant losses due to climate change, and without adaptation, country's future development will be impeded. There are eight major physiographic regions in Myanmar: the Ayeyarwady Delta, Central Dry Zone, Northern Hilly Region, Rakhine Coastal Region, Eastern Hilly Region, Southern Coastal Region, Yangon Deltaic Region, and Southern Interior Region. These regions form three main agroecological zones: i) Central Dry Zone; ii) Coastal Zone; and iii) Hilly Zone (Figure 1). The latter are used to describe climate variability and change at the sub-national level. The country's climate is tropical to subtropical monsoon with three seasons: (i) hot, dry intermonsoonal (mid-February to mid-May); (ii) rainy southwest monsoon (mid-May to late October); and (iii) cool, relatively dry northeast monsoon (late October to mid-February). Annual climate patterns, as well as seasonal temperatures and precipitation vary across the country, as summarized below..."
Source/publisher: HABITAT (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements)
2019-03-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 722.38 KB
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Description: "In 2016 the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance, comprised of UNHabitat, UN-Environment and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, in collaboration with WWF and Columbia University conducted a detailed climate change vulnerability assessment of Pakokku Township..."
Source/publisher: HABITAT (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements)
2018-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 1.14 MB
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Description: "Eight years after experiencing the devastating Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar’s worst natural disaster to date in the country, rural communities, especially women, in the Ayeyarwady River Delta, live in constant dread of another monster sea storm. Although better prepared with improved early warning systems and ready to quickly pack essentials before taking refuge in the village cyclone shelters with their families, the women of Pinsalu in Labutta district in the Delta face a higher risk to their lives during a natural disaster and are more exposed to the growing ravages of climate change. In case of emergency, the women have to take care of the children, sick and elderly at home as the men are often away at work on the farms or fishing in the river. During community consultations for a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) climate change gender vulnerability assessment, the women of Pinsalu and Labutta villages which were worst affected by the May 2008 Cyclone Nargis, said they need to be better prepared for natural disasters as they are primarily responsible for the safety of vulnerable family members. They are trying to procure lifejackets and supplies of safe drinking water, food, medicine and electric lights. They also need to improve their preparedness to cope with the worsening impact of the changing climate on their daily lives. Although women are actively engaged in farming and fisheries, their role in these main livelihood sectors is still not recognized and, as a result, they are often excluded from government-run climate change adaptation training for farmers and fishers. The findings of the UNEP gender assessment, underscore how climate change is affecting rural women and men in Myanmar, especially in a country where 15.1 per cent of agricultural landowning households are headed by women. The women of Labutta lack access to information and other resources needed to adapt to the changing climate. As a result, these women who play pivotal social and economic roles in their communities and often are breadwinners, are the most vulnerable. Over the past decade in Pinsalu, where the main source of livelihoods is fishing, the fish catch has been reduced dramatically because of rising temperatures and damage to mangroves. In the village of Kyauk Hmaw, river bank erosion damages roads, houses and the rice that is stored by the river side, while floods are harming the paddy crop. During heavy rains and floods, women cannot travel to Labutta to sell their crop, fish catch and home-made snacks. On the other hand, erratic rainfall in Bit Tut village sometimes destroys the once-in-a-year rice harvest. Salt water intrusion in the coastal villages has increased salinity in drinking water with severe health implications, especially for pregnant women..."
Source/publisher: UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)
2016-08-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: ''The Myanmar Climate Change Strategy & Action Plan (MCCSAP) 2017-2030 presents a roadmap to guide Myanmar’s strategic responses to address climate related risks and opportunities over the next 15 years and beyond. The Strategy and Action Plan aims to support key actors in their decision making at the national and local level to respond to the challenges and opportunities associated with climate change. The Strategy outlines a vision, goal and objectives to guide a transition to a climate resilient and low carbon development pathway that will deliver inclusive economic and social development. It identifies priority actions in key development sectors to build the adaptive capacity of communities and sectors and to promote low carbon development. The Strategy also outlines an implementation framework to coordinate and implement climate resilient and low carbon development initiatives...''
Source/publisher: Myanmar Climate Change Alliance (MCCA)
2018-03-31
Date of entry/update: 2019-02-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: ''Around Southeast Asia, the impacts of climate change are becoming increasing apparent. Mean temperatures are increasing. Sea levels are rising. Monsoon rains are no longer arriving like clockwork. Rainfall is either too much or not enough. Close to the land, rural communities are attuned to the changes. Yet they are often not equipped to adapt. As a consequence, already poor farmers across the region are struggling to make ends meet. Climate change is expected to exacerbate families’ hardship. To build the resilience of people living in what is now known as the “Dry Zone”, the Myanmar Government– with support from the Adaptation Fund and the UN Development Programme — is carrying out a programme of action to provide vulnerable farmers with the resources, knowledge and tools they need to support good harvests, despite changing weather patterns. Three years into the project (2015-2018), the initiative is bearing results. Read 'Running Dry: A window into the Dry Zone of Myanmar' by Yusuke Taishi...''
Creator/author: Yusuke Taishi
Source/publisher: UNDP Climate Change Adaptation
2018-02-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: ''Globally, three times as many people are now displaced annually because of extreme weather events and climate change than those displaced due to conflict. The vast majority of those displaced live in developing countries, 81% of whom reside in Asia. The planned relocation of communities from their homes and lands necessitated by the effects of extreme weather events and climate change is becoming one of the greatest threats to the enjoyment of human rights and to broader concerns of peace and security. This is especially so in Myanmar. The country is ranked second out of 187 countries in the Global Climate Risk Index for vulnerability to climatic natural disasters, and the country remains worryingly unprepared for dealing with natural disasters. This will be only further compounded by the large-scale displacement of populations likely due to climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and temporary or permanent inundation. Millions of people may be forced to flee their homes and lands along the country’s 2000km coastline, adding to the tragic legacy of displacement in the country...''
Creator/author: Scott Leckie
Source/publisher: Open Global Rights
2018-06-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-01-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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