Searching for Clean Air and Sustainable Energy Transitions in Yangon
Summary
An estimated 10-15% of Yangon’s 5 million residents are considered ‘unofficial’, residing in high density, peri-urban, and often informal settlements. Many residents live in energy poverty, lacking access to electricity and clean and modern cooking fuels and technologies. Households in peri-urban neighborhoods face a double air pollution burden from household air pollution associated with cooking with biomass, and ambient air pollution emanating from other sources including emissions from industry, diesel vehicles, and trash burning. Growing air pollution burden has implications for human health and well-being, the environment, and climate change. Research and citizen awareness raising are urgently needed. This study examined energy poverty and its impacts in fast-growing satellite towns in peri-urban Yangon. A case-control study design collecting household data in three settings, informal and formal settlements in peri-urban neighborhoods of Yangon and a nearby rural area that is projected to be annexed into Yangon within the next 5-10 years, was used. Qualitative and qualitative household survey data was collected to describe and explain energy access and determinants of energy poverty considering variation in settlement patterns, migrant status, socio-demographics, presence of infrastructure and industry, and seasonal variation. Air quality monitoring was collected by crowdsourcing air pollution monitoring events in collaboration with urban high school youth. Capacity building and outreach activities were conducted with several constituencies including policy makers, community leaders, environmental activists and youth.