In the Greater Mekong Subregion, 200 million people in rural areas depend on their surrounding environment for food, water, energy, and income. Forests, wetlands, mangroves, farmlands, and other ecosystems account for between 20% and 55% of the subregion's wealth.
The Working Group on Environment (WGE) provides overall leadership and direction for the subregion's Core Environment Program.
These natural ecosystems – and the food, water, energy and other vital elements they provide – lie at the heart of the development of the Greater Mekong Subregion. How these natural resources are protected, managed, and enhanced will determine the long-term sustainability of its environment and economic development.
Overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, vulnerability to climate change, and ever-increasing natural disasters are threatening these ecosystems. In addition, environmental degradation is posing risks to sustained long-term growth, and could cost a whopping $55 billion in foregone services over the next 25 years if left unchecked.
Unless there is better planning and management, the subregion’s resource-intensive development approach could lead to food shortages, price shocks, health hazards, and environmental damage that impact thousands of families and put businesses at risk.
To address these issues, the six GMS countries are partnering to protect and enhance their natural capital through the GMS Core Environment Program with the vision of a poverty-free and ecologically rich subregion.
The program is administered by the Asian Development Bank and overseen by the GMS Working Group on the Environment, made up of representatives of the GMS environment ministries. The work is coordinated by the GMS Environment Operations Center, which is hosted by ADB’s Thailand Resident Mission.
With support from this program, countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion are working to meet the increasing demand for food, energy, water, and other natural resources, while at the same time ensuring that resources are available for future generations. This includes balancing rapid growth with sustainable practices, and protecting vital water resources, controlling floods, preserving biodiversity and critical ecosystems, and mitigating the impacts of urban expansion.
At the 5th GMS Environment Ministers' Meeting in Chiang Mai from 30 January to 1 February 2018, the ministers endorsed the Core Environment Program Strategic Framework and Action Plan 2018-2022.
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NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR (14 January 2016) - The Government of Myanmar today announced new requirements, developed with assistance from the Asian Development Bank, for assessing the environmental and social impacts of investment projects.
Major expansion in the Greater Mekong Subregion power sector will bring added environmental and social pressures, and more attention needs be paid to incorporating greater sustainability into the power planning process.
This is the joint ministerial statement from the 4th Environment Ministers' Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Republic of the Union of Myanmar on 29 January 2015.
The 10th Semi-Annual Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Working Group on Environment (WGE-SAM10) was held on 11 November 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Rungnapar Pattanavibool, Director, Office of International Cooperation on Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand; and co-chaired by Mr. Pavit Ramachandran, Senior Environment Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Project Officer for the Core Environment Program (CEP).
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - The Asian Development Bank is supporting the Government of Cambodia to develop a National Environmental Strategy and Action Plan to help the country achieve its sustainable development goals.
A new approach to water resource management based on community participation is tapping into local knowledge to protect Thailand's territory from the increasingly severe flooding driven by climate change.
Natural capital has been a key contributor to the Greater Mekong Subregion’s rapid economic growth over the past 3 decades or so, but key natural capital stocks are in a state of decline.
Timely availability of information, data, and indicators at the country and project levels allows for the measurement of progress – the achievement of policy objectives, as well as impacts and outcomes of target-driven projects.
The 21st Annual Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Working Group on Environment (WGE AM21), held on 23 June 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand, was chaired by Dr. Wijarn Simachaya, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Thailand (morning, first half), Dr. Prasert Sornsathapornkul, Director, National Park and Protected Area Innovations Institute, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, MNRE (morning, second half), and Dr.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (5 June 2015) – The Asian Development Bank has approved a pioneering regional technical assistance initiative, with finance from the Nordic Development Fund, to help Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Viet Nam respond to climate-induced health threats.
