The Lower Mekong Initiative Sets Course for 2015-2020

Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCOn August 9, 2014, Secretary of State John Kerry led the United States’ delegation to the Seventh Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. LMI is the region’s only forum for addressing cross-border development and policy challenges facing the five Lower Mekong partner countries: Cambodia, Lao…

Launch of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Eminent and Expert Persons Group (EEPG)

Media NoteOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DCOn August 9, 2014, Secretary John Kerry and the Foreign Ministers of the Lower Mekong partner countries launched the LMI Eminent and Expert Persons Group at the LMI Ministerial Meeting. As a first priority, the Ministers tasked the group with finding concrete ways to promote a sustainable future for the…

Remarks at the Fourth Friends of the Lower Mekong Ministerial Meeting

John KerrySecretary of StateMyanmar International Conference CenterNaypyitaw, MyanmarThank you very much, Mr. Co-Chair, I appreciate it very much. And again, I repeat we all appreciate your leadership and particularly hosting us here now. And I want to welcome the ASEAN Secretary General Minh. Thank you very much for being here with us, too. And to…

Remarks at the Seventh Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting

John KerrySecretary of StateMyanmar International Conference CenterNaypyitaw, MyanmarThank you very much, Mr. Minister, and again, we all thank you for your hospitality in convening us here and for your leadership. And we particularly are grateful for the efforts of your meeting through ASEAN as well as your efforts with the Lower Mekong Initiative. I also…

NEWS: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Participate in LMI Ministerial Meeting

Washington: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Myanmar and Australia this week.In Myanmar, he would participate in a series of meetings with ASEAN leaders, in Australia, he along with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, will participate in the US-Australia Consultations.On August 9, Kerry will arrive in Naypyitaw to meet Burmese government leaders and…

Press Statement: Secretary of State John Kerry’s Travel to Burma, Australia, Solomon Islands, and Hawaii

Jen PsakiDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCAugust 2, 2014Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Naypyitaw, Burma; Sydney, Australia; Honiara, Solomon Islands; and Honolulu, Hawaii August 8-13, 2014.On August 9, Secretary Kerry will arrive in Naypyitaw to meet Burmese government leaders and to attend the U.S.-ASEAN, Lower Mekong Initiative, Friends of the Lower Mekong Initiative, ASEAN Regional…

Training Video Explains Gender Equity in the Context of Forests and Climate Change

The USAID-funded programs Grassroots Equity and Enhanced Networks in Mekong (GREEN Mekong) and Lowering Emissions in Asia's Forests (USAID LEAF) have collaborated to produce a training video on gender equity.The video compliments training programs that target climate change and community forestry practitioners; it emphasizes gender equity as a key element for sustainable climate change initiatives…

Training Manual Launched to Improve Social Equity in Forests and Climate Change Context

The USAID-funded Grassroots Equity and Enhanced Networks in the Mekong (GREEN Mekong) program recently completed a seminal training publication entitled “Improving grassroots equity in the forests and climate change context”.The manual aims to develop the knowledge and capacities of grassroots facilitators to conduct meaningful participatory processes that can improve social equity and inclusion in forest-based…

USAID, USEPA, and UNFCCC Cooperate to Strengthen National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Systems in Asia

Experts from the USAID Low Emissions Asian Development (LEAD) program, in cooperation with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), trained country teams from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam on international best practices for sustainable national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory systems from July 21-23, 2014…

Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Fin Free Thailand Promote Shark Conservation

On July 16, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie A. Kenney joined USAID-supported Fin Free Thailand at the Rayong Aquarium Eastern Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center to promote shark and ocean conservation.  The event is part of Fin Free Thailand's efforts to reduce consumer demand for shark fin in order to protect endangered sharks and…

Regional Model for Low Emission Provincial Planning Nears Completion

25 key experts met on July 14 in Da Lat, Vietnam to integrate technical and policy components of the Lam Dong Provincial REDD+ Action Plan (PRAP), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the province’s forest estate by 27% by 2020.The plan has been developed through two years of close collaboration among stakeholders…

CTI PFAN Accepting Proposals from Asian Region for Participating in the AFCEF-5 Business Plan Competition

Asia Forum for Clean Energy Financing (AFCEF-5) seeks to nurture entrepreneurs, start-up and existing companies, project teams and consortia with environmentally beneficial business proposals with the aim of linking them with investment and finance and making them happen.Applications for AFCEF-5 Business Plan Competition must now be received by midnight (Japan Time) on Thursday, 24th July 2014.…