GMS Core Environment Program (CEP)

In 2002, the First ever GMS Summit of Leaders was held, providing political commitment to the GMS Program at the highest level. The Second GMS Summit was held in Kunming in July 2005 which endorsed the implementation of the GMS Core Environment Program. The CEP is based on GMS countries commitment to sustainable use of shared natural resources and environment. The CEP was launched in 2006 and the project implementation office or the Environment Operations Center was inaugurated in April 2006 and is located in Bangkok adjacent to the Thailand Resident Mission under its administrative umbrella.

Integrated Approach to Managing Shared Resources

Since 1992, Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries have embarked on a program of economic cooperation that aims to promote development through closer economic linkages. Cooperation on environmental issues is an important part of the GMS Economic Cooperation Program.

The Core Environment Program (CEP) has been developed as a joint initiative of GMS member countries and was endorsed by the Second GMS Summit of Leaders held in Kunming, People's Republic of China (PRC), in July 2005.

The GMS comprises six countries sharing the Mekong River - Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Home to more than 300 million people, its vast wealth of human and natural resources makes it a new frontier for economic growth in Asia. However, unsustainable exploitation of resources and population pressures threaten fragile ecosystems and biodiversity.

The CEP will empower GMS countries to effectively manage their environment and economic development - through enhanced connectivity, improved competitiveness, and a better sense of community in the subregion - to achieve an overall and sustainable improvement in people's lives.

Development Challenges

• Declining Resource Base
  • Forests: 50% decline, $27 billion annual disinvestment.
  • Fisheries: Declining freshwater catch.
  • Agriculture: Increasing soil degradation.
  • Industry: Reduced water quality.
• Acid Rain and the potential economic impact.
• Insufficient capacity for sustainable environmental/natural resource planning, monitoring and regulatory enforcement.
• Lack of Capacity to manage Climate Change risks to livelihoods, investments, and to sustainable economic and equitable development.