In interviews, government departments cited a number of challenges that prevent effective climate change education and action. The government lacks adequate capacity, budget, and technology to promote climate resiliency. Coordination and collaboration between departments and sectors is lacking. And then, there is a range of broader challenges that, as government informants explained, complicate climate change responses such as poverty, education levels, migration, and civil unrest.  

NGOs that directly or indirectly work on climate change face their own challenges. Common hurdles include a lack of funding, low public awareness, barriers to government engagement, and general disinterest as attention understandably concentrates on peace, poverty, political transition, terrorism, rule of law, and issues like employment, Rakhine State, and LGBTQI concerns. Even if a youth has been directly affected by something like droughts or floods, their focus remains on their jobs and the well-being of their families and community.

There is also the technical challenge of distributing information on climate change. Climate change activists around the world rely heavily on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp, and so on as a key to raising awareness and prompting behavioral changes. Myanmar has started using those platforms, but they do not yet provide a functional or reliable way to target affected youth at scale. Both the government and NGOs have targeted women as key stakeholders on climate change, but not the youth. In the end, there is a general apathy that will have to be comprehensively overcome to prompt purposeful youth-centric climate change action.

A report entitled “Impacts of Climate Change on Youth, Peace, and Security” underscores that youth bulges will increase the absolute number of people vulnerable to climate impacts. Youth are prone to experiencing poor physical and mental health issues, poorer quality diets, worse self-reported health, and lower levels of school attendance as a result of food insecurity. This will complicate a range of social, biological, and psychological transitions as they shift to adulthood. For many countries, the percentage of out-of-school youth is unacceptably high and this will be made worse by climate change. Extreme weather events cause poverty which make students’ families unable to afford school fees. Such events sometimes destroy school buildings or turn schools into shelters which make children away from school temporarily, or permanently for some. None of this takes into account the type of large-scale climate-related disasters that Myanmar has experienced and is prone to. These disasters can have long-standing social, political, and economic consequences that youth will spend their lifetime overcoming.

The list of challenges is long. But Myanmar also has advantages and opportunities to spark youth climate change action. Myanmar’s youth are incredibly resilient and active. They have lived through military rule and built immeasurable social and political skills. Myanmar’s youth are quick to initiate action and lead when they are inspired to do so. According to survey results, university students from the big cities studied, including Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi, have the requisite awareness and capacity to create local change and expand these efforts in time. Several organizations such as Conyet Create, Spectrum, and MYEO have campus-focused climate change and environmental programs, and environmental studies have been introduced into several bachelor’s degrees. Myanmar’s private sector has put an emphasis on environmental protection as part of their sustainability programs, too, providing opportunities for new roles and activities in local companies (see, for example, FMI). And Myanmar has seen youth-led climate strikes. Climate change is increasingly a hot topic globally, which provides a pull for Myanmar’s youth. Select youth have translated documentary and TED talks into Burmese. There is youth action underway and many incentives in place. There are plenty of pathways available. International organizations and enterprises provide funding for sustainable projects as the interest on the issue has been increasing day by day. Some funding is only for members or alumni of specific programs, while some targets climate change enthusiasts (Green City and YSEALI Seeds for the Future, for example). Climate change talk shows, tree planting activities, recycling and upcycling projects, and various campaigns have been organized in different communities around the country both physically and virtually. But the entire equation needs to come together.

There is an onus on all parties to do their part in catalyzing youth climate change efforts. There is a need for greater collaboration within and between stakeholder groups. Youth themselves must take the initiative. But, government leadership is critical. In a country with so many all-consuming tasks, the government must take the initiative to create space and opportunities to make climate change a priority: to provide funding, to enact inclusive plans, to establish new regulations and uphold existing ones, to introduce formal and non-formal curriculum, and to provide a platform for youth to take the lead on climate change.