Development Issues: 2-Day Int’l Conference On Environmental And Sustainable Development

A 2-Day International Conference on Environmental and Sustainable Development began in Yangon on Wednesday.

This is the 1st international conference jointly organized by Myanmar Environmental Assessment Association (MEAA) and International Finance Corporation. The conference aims to provide an interdisciplinary platform where various environmental, social and sustainability related issues and challenges are discussed.

Chairman, Myanmar Environmental Assessment Association, Aung Nanda said “One of our MEEA’s objectives is to discuss and exchange knowledge through the research. About 60 research papers under various titles including environmental engineering, science and law are set to be read out by local and international keynote speakers and researchers. We will keep organizing such a conference like this in coming years to sharpen the skills of experts.”

This conference is expected to create a unique platform for a diversity of stakeholders including researchers, scientists, industry experts, NGOs, EIA practitioners and policy makers to exchange valuable information and current knowledge and identify effective solutions to address environmental and social sustainability in Myanmar.

Asia ESG Advisory Lead, International Finance Corporation, Kate Lazarus said “The idea of this conference emerges as an opportunity to bring together research that’s been conducted here in Myanmar by practitioners, by government, by academics in Myanmar universities and to showcase as well. And identify solutions to build more awareness but also to ensure that is action oriented.”

At the same time, Environmental Conservation processes are needed to be implemented along with Every Sustainable Development Goal, said Director General of Environmental Conservation Department.

Director General, Environmental Conservation Department, Hla Maung Thein said “The main object of the conference is to implement Myanmar Sustainable Development Procedures with environmental conservation processes. Representatives from relevant ministries, academicians and researchers from various sectors joined this conference to discuss ideas and exchange views. This is kind of performing awareness, participation and implementation for environmental conservation in every development goal.”

This conference will continue till the 9th of January by sharing project experience and knowledge of environmental and social issues to tackle the complexity of development projects through workshops, seminars and stakeholder meetings.