Advocating for Sustainable Development in Burma

Objective This is a resource for people advocating about sustainable development issues in Burma.

Contents  Ideas of Sustainable Development  Climate Change and Sustainable Development  Aspects of Sustainable Development:  Biodiversity  Forests  Land and Mining  Agriculture  Water  Energy  Case Studies on Advocating for Sustainable Development

Views of Sustainable Development United Nations:

Views of Sustainable Development Cultural Sustainability: Sustainable development should help promote cultural diversity and indigenous cultures.

Views of Sustainable Development  Southeast Asia:  Priorities –  Green Economy  Forest Preservation  Water Supplies  Preventing Disasters  Burma’s government has said that it intends to focus on preserving forests and building the green economy.

Views of Sustainable Development  Best Practice:  Sustainable development should benefit different groups (like women, minorities, and indigenous people) fairly.  People affected by development should have a say in how it is carried out.  Sustainable development should take into account that the world’s climate is changing.

Aspects of Sustainable Development  Biodiversity  Forests  Land and Mining  Agriculture  Water  Energy

Aspects of Sustainable Development - Biodiversity

Aspects of Sustainable Development - Land

Aspects of Sustainable Development – Land  Damage to Land  Pollution  Degradation  Erosion  Loss of Land  Land confiscation  Displacement  Land laws

Aspects of Sustainable Development - Mining AIR: - Greenhouse gases - Air pollution BIODIVERSITY: - Pollution - Land clearing WATER: - Toxic waste - Sediment SOIL: -Toxic waste - Erosion

Aspects of Sustainable Development - Agriculture

Aspects of Sustainable Development - Forests

RESOURCES PROTECTION CULTURE

Aspects of Sustainable Development - Water

Protection for the Natural Environment Key Part of the Natural Environment Industry Fishing Farming Livestock Human Life

Aspects of Sustainable Development - Energy

Development Energy

Climate Change

Key Concepts – EIA An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a study of what impact a project is likely to have on the environment. The Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry requires certain projects to carry out EIAs before they can be approved.

Key Concepts – EIA All EIAs should:  Happen before a decision is made  Describe the project and the local environment  Examine the potential environmental and social impacts of the project  Look at the potential impacts if the project is carried out at a different site, or in a different way, or not at all  Examine ways to reduce the impact of the project  Point out where more information is needed  Give people who will be affected by the project the chance to read and contribute to the EIA

Key Concepts – FPIC Free, prior, and informed consent is a key part of sustainable development.

Key Policies – Agenda 21 Agenda 21 Non-binding international agreement (1992)

Key Policies – Agenda 21  Governments should use community-led sustainable development to reduce poverty:  Strengthen land ownership  Protect and extend forests, and solve the economic problems that lead to forests being exploited  Improve food security through sustainable agriculture  Preserve coasts and wetlands (especially mangroves), taking the needs of indigenous communities into account  Develop clean energy, including providing wood for the rural poor

Key Policies – Agenda 21  Major groups (including women, youth, and indigenous peoples) should be included in decisions.

Key Policies – Agenda 21  Indigenous peoples’ use of forests should be protected.

Key Policies – Agenda 21  Governments must report their progress to the UN.

Key Policies – Agenda 21  Rio +20 Update - Renewed Commitment  Green economic growth  Equality - economic, social, environmental  Human rights (including development, standard of living, and food), and rights for women and youth  Democracy and rule of law  Working together on finance, technology, and accountability

Key Policies – Agenda 21  Rio +20 Update:  New international forum on sustainable development, which may help groups other than governments get involved  Agreement to come up with sustainable development goals by 2015  Weak agreement – no specific actions (Burma’s government did not volunteer any)

Key Policies - NSDS The National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) of 2009 carries out Agenda 21.  Key NSDS promises:  Require Environmental Impact Assessments for mining operations and hydropower dams by 2014  Prevent pollution and restore degraded land from mining projects  Increase the use of renewable energy

Key Policies – Convention on Biodiversity Non-binding international agreement (1993)

Key Policies – Convention on Biodiversity  Requires governments to:  Set aside protected areas  Restore degraded areas  Preserve traditional knowledge about the environment  Educate and involve the public in protecting biodiversity

Key Policies - NBSAP Burma is developing a National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP) to carry out the Convention. The latest draft of the NBSAP was written in late 2011; a final version is expected soon. The NBSAP is important, because it would also affect forests, land, agriculture, and water in Burma.

Key Policies - NBSAP  Key promises of the NBSAP:  Increase protected areas to 10% of the country

Key Policies - NBSAP  Key promises of the NBSAP:  Create a clear policy for land use and ownership  Stop the overuse of land, and limit the use of chemicals in agriculture

Key Policies - NBSAP  Key promises of the NBSAP:  Increase the number of protected forests, and enforce the limits on logging

Key Policies - NBSAP  Key promises of the NBSAP:  Set aside wetlands, stop destructive fishing practices, and punish those who pollute the water

Key Policies - NBSAP  Key promises of the NBSAP:  Introduce Environmental Impact Assessments for land conservation projects, mining operations, forestry projects, dams, agricultural projects and infrastructure

Key Policies - NBSAP  Key promises of the NBSAP:  Protect the rights of ethnic peoples  Enable people to participate in decisions about conservation

Key Policies – Environmental Conservation Law  The environment ministry can:  set guidelines for pollution  assess whether projects will cause social or environmental damage  decide whether to allow projects  restrict other ministries for breaking rules  punish people and companies  negotiate international deals and manage donations from other countries

Key Policies – Environmental Conservation Law  Problems:  No specific policies  Ministry has all the power (including power to set the rules for Environmental Impact Assessments - EIAs)  No role for communities  Mostly focuses on pollution

Key Policies Today  What do these policies mean in reality?  Many of the goals set out in these policies have not been met.  However, these are public (and sometimes international) commitments, and Burma’s government is particularly sensitive to the opinions of the international community and potential donors right now.

Funding Development Development projects are often funded by foreign governments, foreign companies, or international financial institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Funding Development – Foreign Countries  Governments:  often fund projects that will deliver a benefit to their country, like timber or energy  Companies:  may be national or private  usually only have to obey the environmental laws of the country where the project is  can sometimes be challenged in their countries’ courts

Funding Development – Foreign Countries

Funding Development – Financial Institutions The World Bank has pledged money to invest in Burma, including in community- based projects.

Funding Development – Financial Institutions World Bank Policies: World Bank Policies:  Requires consultations with communities  Won’t destroy important habitats  Need permission to displace indigenous peoples  Won’t cut or degrade critical forests

Funding Development – Financial Institutions The Asian Development Bank has pledged money to Burma, and already funds regional projects.

Funding Development – Financial Institutions Asian Development Bank Policies: Asian Development Bank Policies:  Requires EIAs  Requires consultations with communities  Won’t destroy important habitats  Displaced people get a say in their resettlement or compensation  Need permission to sell indigenous knowledge

Funding Development – International Institutions The United Nations has given Burma some funding for adapting to climate change, and also for small agricultural projects.

Funding Development – Best Practice (Global) All investors should:  study and reduce negative environmental and social effects of projects  decide whether it is ethical to support the government of the country  consult local communities  monitor the impacts of the project All of these things should be done openly.

Funding Development – Best Practice in Burma BEWG’s Benchmarks:  Do no harm  Best practices or no practices (FPIC)  Act transparently and with principles  Support civil society, not impunity  Empower communities

Case Study – Yadana Pipeline Land Confiscation Militarisation Roads Deforestation Poaching Displacement Overuse of Land Rape and Murder Forced Labour

Case Study – Myitsone Dam Flood biodiverse area Displacement Salt Sediment Pollution Damage to fishing Water shortages

Evaluation  What was the most helpful part of the class?  What was the least helpful part of the class?  What would you like to learn more about?  What questions do you have?