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Summary:

Myanmar covers an area of 676,578 square kilometers and has a population of nearly 54 million people (CIA, 2011). Ranked 135 of 169 on the Human Development Index (UNDP, 2010), Myanmar is the lowest ranked country in East and Southeast Asia and the only one classified as having a “low” level of human development. Much of its struggling economy is based on fossil fuel industries (CIA, 2011) that contribute to environmental degradation. The climate of Myanmar is roughly divided into three seasons: summer, rainy season and cold season. Summer is from March to mid-May; the rain falls from mid-May to the end of October; and the cold season starts in November and ends at the end of February. Generally, Myanmar enjoys a tropical monsoon climate. However, climatic conditions differ widely from place to place due to widely differing topographical situations. For instance, Central Myanmar has an annual rainfall of less than 1016 mm while the Rakhine coast gets about 5080 mm. Major environmental issues include industrial pollution of air, soil, water, inadequate sanitation and deforestation.

ADAPTATION NEEDS AND PRIORITIES:

Myanmar’s climate is primarily tropical, with heavy rainfall during the months of May to October. Temperatures during the summer months of March to May are typically as high as 43°C on the coast and 36°C further north. Rainfall patterns also vary by geographical area—being as much as five times higher on the coast compared to the country’s northern regions. Due to the extremely high rainfall amounts during certain periods of the year, landslides are a common occurrence. The area is also subject to extreme weather events such as cyclones floods and droughts (ALM, 2009). In addition there are significant pollution problems with soil, water and sanitation concerns (ALM, 2009). Finding information on Myanmar with regards to adaptation to climate change is a challenging task due to both a lack of any National Communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the delayed submission of a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). The lack of any communication on climate change is a hindrance to both developing a response to climate change and being able to translate that response into actions and project proposals.
The vulnerability of the country to extreme climatic events, however, may be derived from the impact of the Nargis Cyclone that killed 78,000 people in 2008 (IRC, 2008). This event, and other climate impacts, exemplifies a significant need for disaster risk management and a focused approach and policy to increase capacity to respond to climate change. A cursory review of the limited available data points to adaptation needs likely being greatest in the areas of agriculture, forestry and coastal management. As well, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has identified several needs including a basic lack of awareness of environmental issues, exacerbation of pre-existing conditions by climate change, and severely diminished local resilience capacities.
Barriers to adaptation in Myanmar include not only the capacity and issues that many least developed countries face but also government controls and international isolation. Myanmar currently is subject to economic sanctions imposed by several western countries because of political and governmental concerns. Currently, the governments of the Australia, Canada, the European Union and the United States have all enacted sanctions against the Myanmar government (CIA, 2011).

NATIONAL LEVEL POLICIES:

No national-level policy initiatives with respect to adaptation could be identified. The Government of Myanmar initiated development of its NAPA in 2008 with the assistance of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and funding provided through the Least Developed Countries Fund. When completed should provide a preliminary policy direction for adaptation actions in Myanmar.

CURRENT ADAPTATION ACTION:

Myanmar has obtained limited funds for development and climate change initiatives, meaning that its level of activity in the area of climate change adaptation is very low compared to other developing countries in East and Southeast Asia. It is engaged in handful of ongoing regional projects that are focused primarily on knowledge sharing, capacity building, institutional strengthening and policy formation. These projects are oriented towards addressing needs in the sectors of agriculture and natural resources management. Adaptation projects in Myanmar are being supported by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the governments of Germany and Sweden.

PROPOSED ADAPTATION ACTION:

It is expected that the NAPA, upon completion, will provide a significant list of adaptation actions that Myanmar proposes to undertake.

ASSESSMENT:

Given the lack of information available, it is difficult to assess Myanmar’s progress in addressing climate change. It is clear, however, that an adaptation plan and supporting policies are needed given the vulnerability of its population to climate change impacts—as suggested by the devastating effects of the Nargis cyclone. The current political and socio-economic barriers in the country, including sanctions placed on the regime by some countries seen as primary funders of climate change initiatives, are major barriers to implementing adaptation actions. Completion of its NAPA should go a long way to putting in place the first steps needed towards an adaptation plan.

Primary Source: Gass, Philip; Hove, Hilary; Parry, Jo-Ellen. (2011) “Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action: East and Southeast Asia.” Adaptation Partnership / International Institute for Sustainable Development.

Additional References:

Featured Content:
Review of Existing and Planned Adaptation Action
Development Programming Links:
CCF/CPD/CPO - Country Cooperation Framework/Country Programme Document/Country Programme Outline
UNDP Expenditure by Practice Area
Human Development Reports
Human Development Reports - Myanmar
ICIMOD - Myanmar
Country Web Pages:
Ongoing UNDP Activities
Ongoing Worldbank Activities
Ongoing UNEP Activities