The IPSJ’s Climate Change, Environmental Rights and Sustainable Development Program is designed to empower youth, promote research, and advance advocacy on climate change and environmental sustainability in Myanmar. The program emphasizes a just transition, ensuring that social, economic, and environmental dimensions are integrated into climate action, while addressing the multidimensional challenges posed by climate change, environmental degradation, and weak governance.
Our Approach
IPSJ applies a rights-based, conflict-sensitive, and community-centred approach by:
- Strengthening youth leadership and civic engagement on climate and environmental issues,
- Promoting evidence-based research grounded in local realities,
- Linking environmental governance with democracy, peacebuilding, and federalism.
- Supporting inclusive dialogue and policy engagement at local and national levels.
Key Program Components
Youth Empowerment on Climate and Environment (E&CC)
To equip young people in Myanmar with the knowledge and skills necessary for meaningful participation in climate-related initiatives, IPSJ, in collaboration with partner organization has implemented a climate awareness program titled “Empowering Local Youth on Environment, Climate Risks, and Adaptation Actions (E&CC)” since 2023.
The nine-day E&CC training program aims to nurture and empower local youth while raising awareness of environmental conservation and climate adaptation. As of 2025, 15 E&CC training sessions have been conducted, with nine resource persons contributing expertise across a wide range of environment- and climate-related topics. A total of 452 participants has successfully completed the training. In line with IPSJ’s commitment to inclusivity, participants were recruited from diverse backgrounds, representing different regions, ethnic groups, and border areas of Myanmar.
Research on Local Environmental Issues
E&CC alumni are supported to conduct Mini Research Projects documenting under-reported environmental challenges in their communities. These studies contribute locally grounded evidence and practical recommendations for environmental governance and climate adaptation. The research topics included:
- Evaluating the Environmental Awareness and Performance of Dharma School Pupils – Ms. W. W. Khaing (Kalay Township, Sagaing Region),
- Assessing the Causes of Flooding in Ward 9, Hlaing Thar Yar Township – Mr. A. S. Min (Yangon)
- Rescue, Relief, and Recovery Measures in Response to Flood Devastation: A Case Study of the 2010 Buthidaung Flood – Mr. R. Arkarni (Rakhine State)
- Solid Waste Characterization and Composition Study at Kyar Po Village, Taungtha Township – Mr. Richard (Mandalay Region)
- Assessing Urban Flood Severity and Humanitarian Aid Distribution Using Social Media and Social Surveys: A Case Study of the 2023 Flood in Bago City – Ms. Nora (Shan State)
- Environmental Knowledge and Awareness of Local Youth in Taunggyi District, Southern Shan State – Ms. Y. Y. Aung (Shan State)
International and National Environmental Actions for Youth (INEA)
IPSJ recognizes the importance of supporting educated youth engaged in the pro-democracy movement while strengthening their capacity to address climate change and environmental challenges. In response, IPSJ launched a three-month advanced training course that enhances youth understanding of international environmental conventions, national legal frameworks, and environmental research methods since 2023. The program also integrates democracy, human rights, and policy perspectives to strengthen youth leadership in environmental action. To date, three cohorts of the three-month INEA training program have been successfully conducted.
Key thematic areas covered in the INEA program include:
- The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and related global and national actions.
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and related global and national actions.
- The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and related global and national actions.
- Myanmar’s legal frameworks on environmental affairs.
- Environmental research methods and procedures.
- Special Interdisciplinary Sessions (18 hours).
The Special Sessions comprised of interdisciplinary topics designed to broaden participants’ perspectives by linking environmental conservation with democracy, human rights, laws, policies, and international frameworks, thereby enhancing their capacity to engage effectively in environmental governance.
Youth Environmental Action and Research Initiatives
Following each INEA training cohort, a structured follow-up initiative was implemented. Participants worked in groups to develop environmental research proposals, resulting in multiple proposals across the cohorts. Selected research teams subsequently conducted their studies under the guidance of professional supervisor, focusing on environmental research methodologies and applied analysis over a three-month period.
To disseminate the research findings, a seminar titled “Seminar on Reflections of the Personal Experiences of Youth in Myanmar: Climate Change and Natural Disasters” was organized. Participants presented their papers in a formal paper-reading format, facilitating dialogue, learning, and reflection. The seminar marked an important milestone in the academic and professional development of the participants.
To date, six research papers have been produced under the program, addressing a wide range of environmental and climate-related issues:
- Bird Species Diversity Across Elevational Zones Along Hiking Trails: A Case Study in Popa Mountain National Park.
- Assessing the Hluttaw Members’ Awareness of Municipal Solid Waste Management (Case Study on the 2020 Elected Hluttaw Members).
- Investigating the Adverse Factors of Victims Affected by Disaster (Civil War & Mocha Cyclone) & Comparing the Level of their Damages and Finding the Relationship between their Resilience Score & Level of Damages.
- Assessing the Formulation Process of the Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) Sector of Myanmar’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as submitted by the National Unity Government.
- Assessment of Public Awareness on the Environmental Issues During the Political Crisis in Myanmar.
- Unveiling the Hidden Biodiversity of Alaungdaw Kathpha (AKNP): A Strategic Approach to Conservation.
These studies were conducted under constraints, including limited time, funding, and data availability. Nevertheless, they remain timely, relevant, and thought-provoking, reflecting the lived realities of Myanmar’s current socio-political and environmental context. Collectively, the findings highlight the strong intersection between political instability, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience in Myanmar and underscore the critical role of youth, research, and inclusive governance in addressing these interconnected challenges.
[The papers can be downloaded at: RESEARCH REPORT]
