Building Resilience in a Polycrisis in Myanmar - UN-Habitat Myanmar and the Myanmar Climate Action Network (M-CAN) at WUF12

The recent extreme flooding in September 2024—impacting approximately one million people across 70 of Myanmar’s 330 townships—has underscored the urgency of adaptive climate programming and enhanced resilience efforts. The monsoon rains, compounded by Typhoon Yagi’s remnants, brought unprecedented flooding to the Northwest, Southeast, and Rakhine State, tragically resulting in over 360 fatalities and leaving hundreds more missing. This disaster highlights the necessity for innovative, localized solutions to Myanmar’s intensifying climate and humanitarian crises.

To address these pressing issues, the Myanmar Climate Action Network (M-CAN) was launched in 2023 through the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance (MCCA) Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by UN-Habitat. M-CAN has since grown into a coalition of over 200 climate advocates, each committed to driving practical climate action and catalyzing partnerships for the communities most vulnerable to climate impacts. M-CAN prioritizes on-the-ground implementation and empowers local actors to actively participate in climate resilience efforts.

Representatives from M-CAN and UN-Habitat Myanmar will participate in the Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt, from 4 to 8 November 2024. Under the WUF12 theme, “It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” the M-CAN delegation will showcase Myanmar’s unique climate resilience efforts and seek to secure international support for continued adaptation and disaster mitigation.

Key Areas of Focus at WUF12

At WUF12, M-CAN will concentrate on Building Resilience in a Polycrisis, through the following priority themes:

• Disaster Risk Reduction & Flood Response: Presenting community-centered approaches to flood recovery and resilience, especially tailored to conflict and post-conflict settings.
• Climate Adaptation and Mitigation: Highlighting Nature-based solutions, traditional knowledge, climate-resilient shelter initiatives, including a presentation by Professor Hiroto Kobayashi from Keio University on “Participatory Local Action: Nurturing a Sense of Home in Disaster-Affected Areas,” featuring the Veneer House—a rapid-deployment, bamboo-based shelter solution designed for post-flood contexts.
• Multi-Sectoral Interventions: Showcasing strategies for water safety and security, energy security, food security, public health, youth-led climate action, gender-responsive programming, and nature-based solutions, all emphasizing inclusive, locally driven resilience-building.

Throughout the forum, M-CAN will engage participants with interactive content, from publications and videos to an art installation promoting climate awareness. Daily themes will spotlight ongoing climate action in Myanmar and strategies to address intersecting climate and conflict challenges.

As Myanmar navigates an intricate landscape of armed conflict, environmental crises, and humanitarian need, M-CAN’s involvement at WUF12 underscores its commitment to resilience through local action and international cooperation. The forum is a unique opportunity for M-CAN non-State actors to connect with global partners, share good practices, and advocate for solutions that can empower Myanmar’s communities to overcome these intersecting challenges and foster a sustainable future.

-ENDS-

For more information, please visit the following websites and social media channels.

Website:

1. WUF12: https://wuf.unhabitat.org/wuf12
2. M-CAN: https://www.myanmar-can.com
3. UN-Habitat: http://www.unhabitat.org
4. UN-Habitat Myanmar: http://www.unhabitatmyanmar.org

Social Media Channels:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/un-habitat-myanmar/
2. Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNHABITAT_MM