Joint Statement on World Environment Day: Protecting Our Rivers, Environment and People through Responsible Natural Resource Governance

5 June 2026

On the occasion of World Environment Day 2026, the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Interim Executive Council of Karenni  State (IEC) reaffirm our responsibility and commitment to protect the natural heritage, ancestral lands, and environment entrusted to our care, as well as the shared ecosystems and waterways that connect the peoples of Myanmar and Thailand.

Today, we publicly reaffirm our commitment to addressing growing environmental concerns that affect our communities and threaten the well-being of present and future generations throughout our shared region.

We are closely monitoring, with deep concern, the growing public attention to reports of contamination in rivers and waterways, as well as broader environmental impacts associated with mining and other extractive activities in the region.

We recognize that poorly regulated resource extraction and the discharge of pollutants into the environment can pose serious risks to food security, public health, local livelihoods, biodiversity, and the ecological integrity of river systems. Such impacts may extend far beyond their immediate areas of origin, affecting downstream communities and shared ecosystems across borders.

We take seriously the concerns raised by local communities, civil society organizations, environmental networks, researchers, and the public regarding environmental challenges affecting the Kok River, the Salween River, and other transboundary waterways. These concerns deserve careful attention, credible investigation, and constructive cooperation among all relevant stakeholders.

The KNU and the Karenni IEC firmly believe that environmental protection requires cooperation, transparency, and collective responsibility.

We are willing and ready to work collaboratively with local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations, environmental networks, academic institutions, technical experts, and relevant authorities to better understand environmental challenges and identify practical pathways toward long-term solutions.

We welcome dialogue, information sharing, and cooperative efforts aimed at strengthening environmental protection and safeguarding the health of our shared river systems.

The KNU and the Karenni IEC are prepared to support and facilitate collaborative initiatives undertaken by local CSOs, community-based organizations, researchers, and technical experts within our respective areas to monitor environmental conditions, collect relevant information, and improve public understanding of environmental risks affecting our communities and waterways.

Furthermore, the KNU and the Karenni IEC will continue engaging with local communities, civil society organizations, researchers, and technical experts to support community-based environmental monitoring, information sharing, and public awareness efforts. We believe that strengthening cooperation among stakeholders will contribute to a better understanding of environmental conditions and support informed responses to emerging environmental concerns.

We believe that reliable information, scientific evidence, and community knowledge are essential foundations for identifying environmental problems and developing effective responses. Strengthening cooperation among communities, researchers, and relevant stakeholders will contribute to more informed decision-making and practical solutions that reflect both local realities and broader environmental concerns.

The KNU and the Karenni IEC reaffirm our commitment to responsible and sustainable natural resource governance. We believe that economic development and natural resource extraction should not come at the expense of environmental protection, public health, community wellbeing, or the rights of future generations.

We therefore commit ourselves to strengthening environmental safeguards and improving governance frameworks related to mining and natural resource management within our respective areas. We will continue working toward the development and implementation of policies, regulations, and management practices that are appropriate to local contexts while being informed by internationally recognized principles and standards.

We recognize that responsible environmental governance requires accountability, transparency, community participation, and respect for the rights and interests of affected communities. These principles will continue to guide our efforts as we work to balance development needs with environmental protection and social wellbeing.

The rivers and ecosystems of our region sustain millions of people and form an essential foundation for food security, livelihoods, cultural heritage, and biodiversity. Protecting these resources is not only an environmental responsibility but also a matter of human security, social justice, and sustainable development.

The environmental concerns affecting the Kok River, the Salween River, and other waterways remind us that rivers do not recognize political boundaries. What happens upstream can affect communities downstream, and environmental challenges in one area can have consequences throughout an entire river basin.

For this reason, addressing environmental concerns requires cooperation among communities, civil society organizations, researchers, authorities, and all relevant stakeholders. Sustainable solutions can only be achieved through dialogue, mutual respect, transparency, and a shared commitment to protecting the environment upon which our peoples depend.

As we observe World Environment Day, we call upon governments, civil society organizations, local communities, researchers, development partners, and the international community to work together in addressing environmental challenges through cooperation, scientific inquiry, evidence-based decision-making, and mutual respect.

The KNU and the Karenni IEC remain committed to supporting constructive efforts that contribute to the protection of our rivers, our environment, and the well-being of our peoples.

Together, we can build a future in which environmental protection, responsible resource governance, and sustainable development go hand in hand for the benefit of current and future generations.

Media Contacts:

KNU:
Phone/Signal : +66986879384
Email : knu.comm@protonmail.com

IEC:
Phone/Signal : +66 636870154
Email : Karenni-IEC2023@protonmail.com

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