Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Yangon Office

The Dark Side of Coal in Myanmar : Investigative Documentary

In “The Dark Side of Coal”, director Nyan Gyi investigates the use of coal in Myanmar, for power and industrial production. Due to weak regulation and monitoring, coal already has serious impacts on Myanmar’s public health and environment – and according to the national energy policy, even more coal power plants are going to be built.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation’s office is monitoring air quality in Yangon and publishing real time data by using airveda device. Air quality measurements will serve as an indicator for us to know how safe the air we are breathing. Click here for details, past data and more background.

Dossier: The Dangers of Coal

Coal is one of the most polluting forms of energy production - dangerous for the environment, for health, and for the climate and thus the planet as a whole. Still, in Myanmar, the use of coal continues and is even envisaged to expand, for power production as well as for industrial process heat. This dossier presents two documentary videos that look at the current usage of coal in Myanmar and in Thailand, respectively, and at the plans to expand coal use for power production and industry purposes. It also includes an article that shows how plans for coal power plants in Myanmar have emerged and changed over time, not least as a result of popular resistance against coal.

The Story of Coal Power in Thailand

Despite risks to environment, people and the planet as a whole, policymakers in ASEAN – Myanmar included – still pursue the development of coal power plants. This video shows what Myanmar can learn from Thailand’s experience with coal power.

Environmental Governance

Coal Power Plants in Myanmar: Recurring Plans, Recurring Protests

Whenever a plan to build a large coal power plant is announced in Myanmar, people take to the streets. While these protests have been rather successful on a local level, this has not discouraged investors from simply announcing a similar plant in another location.

By Felix Sternagel

On the Road to Kyaukphyu: Issues and Debates around a Myanmar Special Economic Zone

The planned Kyaukphyu SEZ – a core aspect of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Myanmar –generates hopes for development and jobs, but also fears about loss of lands and livelihoods. Kyaukphyu needs transparency and local participation in project planning and implementation.

By Felix Sternagel

Fossil-Fuel Doublespeak

On paper, almost every government in the world is committed to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and keeping global temperatures limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. But too many governments, parroting the oil and gas industry's misleading claims, are actually supporting the expansion of fossil fuel production.

By Lili Fuhr and Hannah McKinnon

A clean energy vision for Myanmar

Renewable energy has become a technically and financially feasible alternative to coal and other fossil fuels or large hydro. And in contrast to these traditional sources of energy, renewable energy sources are neither harming the environment nor people's livelihoods in Myanmar.

More articles on Environmental Governance

Political Culture

Uncalculated Risks: Threats and Attacks against Human Rights Defenders and the Role of Development Financiers

Compendium

A new report from the Coalition for Human Rights in Development and the Defenders in Development Campaign reveals the impact of ill-planned investments in infrastructure, energy, and development activities through 25 case studies around the world. The case of limestone quarry in Karen State in Myanmar with the loan of ADB is included as one of the 25 case studies in the report.

Updates from the Border: Humanitarian Operations after the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreements in Burma/Myanmar

Informal humanitarian operations continue to provide important services for many communities along the Thai-Burma/Myanmar border. However, since the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, these essential service providers are increasingly sidelined, both politically and financially.

By Yung Au (Nicole)

Picture from "Support Panzagar: End Hate Speech with Flower Speech"

Halfway there: Myanmar’s difficult transition toward freedom of expression

For decades, Myanmar was among the most isolated countries in the world. Although the process of democratization and the internet have changed things, people still cannot express themselves freely.

By Nay Phone Latt

The development of ASEAN - an introduction

In 1967 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded. This dossier sheds light on the institutional framework of ASEAN and analyses with contributions by civil society and academia, where social and ecological justice has, or should have, its place in Southeast Asia.

Publications

Perspective Asia: Nationalisms and Populisms in Asia

The issue of this 7th Perspectives Asia aims to draw a fine line between different forms of nationalism. The articles from various Asian countries focus on strategies and political styles adopted by populist leaders and explain how nationalistic and religious ideas are distorted by politics.

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On the Road to Kyaukphyu: Issues and Debates around a Myanmar Special Economic Zone

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Updates from the Border: Humanitarian Operations after the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreements in Burma/Myanmar

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Perspectives Asia: DigitalAsia

Over the last years, Asia has undergone an impressive digital transformation. Large parts of the continent have turned from the world’s factory into a creative industry.The different contributions across the continent highlight both the opportunities and risks of digitalization in Asia.

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The Contribution of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Effectiveness: A Case of the Mon Women Movement in Myanmar

The Contribution of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Effectiveness:
Following decades of military dictatorship which denied Myanmar the benefits of an inclusive democracy, the new government continues to fall short: Women remain underrepresented. This paper focusses on the contribution of a growing CSO-led women’s movement to political participation and effectiveness, and highlights opportunities to maximize such efforts.

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