UK-Burma Climate Change Collaboration
UK experts working with Burmese authorities ahead of key UN climate negotiations
DDG Hla Maung Thein with Dave Shaw of Ricardo-AEA (and Big Ben)
From 30 November to 11 December 2015 the world will gather in Paris for critical climate change negotiations. Ahead of Paris every country is expected to produce a document, called an Intended National Determined Contribution (INDC), outlining its plans to tackle and adapt to climate change.
Dave Shaw, Senior Consultant for International Climate Change Policy at the UK organisation Ricardo-AEA, has been providing technical support to the Burmese government as it develops its INDC. Speaking at a workshop in Naypyitaw on 23-24 June, that brought together officials from a range of ministries, as well as representatives from the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance, FAO and UNDP, Mr Shaw emphasised the importance of Burma submitting a comprehensive document, saying:
“I’m very glad that so many government bodies have come together. Burma is not currently a major contributor to man-made climate but it is forecast to be disproportionately affected. The INDC not only provides an opportunity to highlight the many actions that Burma is making itself, it also provides a chance to show the areas where the country needs support.”
Mr Hla Muang Thein, Deputy Director General at the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, said:
“We are very grateful for the collaboration, encouragement and kind support that is being provided by the British Embassy and Ricardo-AEA in the process of preparing our INDC.”
Anthony Preston, Head of Prosperity at the British Embassy in Rangoon, said:
“The UK fully accepts that different countries have different responsibilities for climate change and different levels of capacity in adapting to its impacts and mitigating their greenhouse gas emissions. We nevertheless firmly believe that a successful result at Paris can only be achieved if all countries prepare and present INDCs. To this end the UK Government is delighted to be providing this technical assistance. However, this is aimed at complementing the efforts of Burma’s own Government, with whom the sovereign responsibility of INDC preparation and submission rests”