Background
Climate change is a global phenomenon whose adverse impacts have become increasingly pronounced over the years. Its effects have been felt across the world, and the BIMSTEC region is no exception. Rising temperatures, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation pose serious threats to the lives and livelihoods of people in the Bay of Bengal region.
Recognizing these challenges, the BIMSTEC Leaders agreed to enhance regional cooperation and explore collaborative initiatives in environmental protection, climate resilience, and sustainable development under the Environment and Climate Change (ECC) Sector.
At the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 30 March 2022, the Leaders approved the rationalization and reconstitution of BIMSTEC Sectors and Sub-sectors, under which Environment and Climate Change was identified as one of the seven priority sectors of cooperation. The Kingdom of Bhutan serves as the Lead Member State for the Environment and Climate Change Sector.
Institutional Mechanism
The Joint Working Group on Environment and Climate Change (JWG-ECC) is the main institutional mechanism to conduct the business of the Environment and Climate Change Sector. The meeting decisions of the JWG-ECC are submitted to the BIMSTEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and subsequently to the Ministerial Meeting of BIMSTEC for consideration.
Since its establishment in December 2021, the JWG-ECC has held four meetings:
• 1st Meeting: 06 December 2022
• 2nd Meeting: 12 October 2023
• 3rd Meeting: 28-29 November 2024
• 4th Meeting: 15-16 January 2026
Plan of Action
The 5th BIMSTEC Summit held in March 2022 instructed to develop Plans of Action in consultation with the respective Lead Country of the reconstituted sectors and sub-sectors to guide their activities.
The BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Environment and Climate Change and its corresponding Action Matrix were adopted at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit held on 04 April 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Plan of Action comprises three priority areas:
1. Biodiversity
2. Waste Management
3. Climate Change
Policy, Law and Regulation
Bangladesh:
i. National Environment Policy, 2018
ii. Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended up to 2023)
iii. Environment Conservation Rules, 2023
iv. Bangladesh Biological Diversity Act, 2017
v. Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Act, 2010
vi. Bangladesh Water Act, 2013
vii. Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP), 2022–2041
viii. NDC Implementation Roadmap and Action Plan, 2023
ix. Nationally Determined Contribution (Updated), 2021
x. Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF), established under the Climate Change Trust Act, 2010
Bhutan:
i. National Environment Protection Act of Bhutan, 2019
ii. Waste Prevention and Management Act of Bhutan, 2009
iii. Environmental Assessment Act, 2000
iv. The Water Act of Bhutan, 2011
v. Water Regulation of Bhutan, 2014
vi. Climate Change Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2020
vii. Forest and Nature Conservation Act of Bhutan, 2023
viii. Carbon Market Rules for the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2023
ix. Bhutan’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0, 2025
India:
i. National Environment Policy, 2006
ii. Indian Forest Act, 1927
iii. Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022
iv. Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam (Forest Conservation and Augmentation) Act, 1980, as amended in 2023
v. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
vi. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
vii. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
viii. Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
ix. Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001
x. Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act, 2023
xi. National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), 2008
xii. India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (Updated), 2022
Myanmar:
i. National Environmental Policy, 1994
ii. Environmental Conservation Law, 2012
iii. Environmental Conservation Rules, 2014
iv. Myanmar Climate Change Strategy (2018–2030)
v. Myanmar Climate Change Master Plan (2018–2030)
vi. Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (2018–2030)
vii. Conservation of Biodiversity and Protected Areas Law, 2018
viii. Conservation of Biodiversity and Protected Areas Rules, 2018
ix. Community Forestry Instructions, 2019
Nepal:
i. Environment Protection Act, 2019
ii. Forest Act, 2019
iii. National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973
iv. Water Resources Act, 1992
v. National Climate Change Policy, 2019
vi. National Framework of Local Adaptation Plan of Action, 2019
vii. Climate Resilient Planning and Budgeting Guidelines, 2020
viii. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, 2020
ix. Nationally Determined Contribution (Updated), 2021
x. National Adaptation Plan (NAP), 2021
xi. National Framework for Loss and Damage, 2021
xii. Long-Term Strategy for Net-Zero Emissions, 2021
Sri Lanka:
i. National Environmental Act, No. 47 of 1980 (as amended)
ii. Forest Ordinance, 1907 (as amended)
iii. Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, 1937 (as amended)
iv. Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Act, No. 57 of 1981 (as amended)
v. National Environment Policy, 2022
vi. National Policy on Climate Change, 2023
vii. National Policy on Environmentally Sensitive Areas in Sri Lanka, 2022
viii. National Policy on Waste Management, 2020
ix. National Policy on Traditional Knowledge and Practices related to Biodiversity, 2020
x. National Policy on Access to Biological Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits, 2020
xi. National Biosafety Policy, 2019
xii. National Framework on Eco Labelling in Sri Lanka, 2019
xiii. National Environment Action Plan (NEAP), 2022–2030
Thailand:
i. National Strategy (2018–2037)
ii. Master Plans under National Strategy
iii. National Reform Plan
iv. 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023–2027)
v. National Climate Change Master Plan (2015–2050)
vi. National Adaptation Plan (NAP), 2018
vii. Thailand Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), 2021
viii. Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act, 1992
ix. Hazardous Substances Act, 1992
x. National Parks Act, 2019
xi. Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act, 2019
xii. Forest Act, 1941 (as amended)
xiii. Water Resources Act, 2018
Forest Area
Conservation of forests and other lands is one of the priority areas outlined in the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Environment and Climate Change (ECC). BIMSTEC countries collectively host expansive forested areas, contributing significantly to the region's biodiversity and ecological balance. Forests in the region cover approximately 1,331,999.3 sq. km, representing about 38.31 per cent of the total BIMSTEC land area. Over the years, the percentage of forest area has declined in some of the BIMSTEC countries due to deforestation and land-use change. In Bangladesh, forest area stood at about 14.5 per cent of total land area in 2023, reflecting relatively stable forest coverage in recent years. While Myanmar has experienced a gradual decline in forest area over the past two decades, most other countries in the region have experienced stabilization or modest increases in forest area during the same period, with a notable increase to about 71.6 per cent in 2023 in the case of Bhutan.
The 19th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting held virtually on 09 March 2023 also approved the Mountain Economy as a sub-sector under the Environment and Climate Change Sector.
Green House Gas (GHG) Emission
Green House Gas (GHG) emission among BIMSTEC member States is lower compared to the global average per capita emissions of around 4.7 tons. In 2023, the global emission was 36.8 billion tonnes, which is a record highest level of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry.
In the BIMSTEC region, countries except India have emitted less than 1% of global CO2 emissions individually. India is the only country among BIMSTEC member States which has emitted around 7–8% of global CO2 and has had a rising percentage of emissions in the last 20 years. Whereas Bhutan maintained a constant record of emitting less than 1% for the last two decades. In terms of annual GHG emissions among BIMSTEC member states, India and Thailand are the top emitters, followed by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. However, India’s emissions are significantly lower compared to China and the United States, which emit around 15.9 billion tonnes and 6.0 billion tonnes of GHG per year, respectively.
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