Vientiane Capital, 11 June 2026 - The Government of Lao PDR, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), convened the National Environment Forum 2026 on 11 June in Vientiane Capital, bringing together government ministries, development partners, civil society, private sector, academia, and youth to advance collective action on Lao PDR's most pressing environmental challenges.

Held under the theme "Sustainable Pathways for Lao PDR: Driving Economic Growth, Environmental Sustainability", the Forum provided a platform for dialogue on the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, as well as the financing and policy architecture needed to address them at scale. The Forum was opened by H.E. Dr. Linkham Douangsavanh, Minister of Agriculture and Environment, and Ms. Martine Therer, UNDP Resident Representative to Lao PDR.

In Lao PDR, environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, land degradation and unsustainable resource use are becoming more pronounced and increasingly interconnected. Rapid development pressures combined with climate-induced stresses have placed growing strain on ecosystems and rural communities, particularly those dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods. Addressing these challenges requires holistic approaches that strengthen policies, institutions, partnerships, and public engagement, while aligning national priorities with regional and global environmental commitments. At the same time, it requires adequate, well-coordinated, and sustained financing to translate these priorities into effective and scalable actions.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr. Linkham Douangsavanh reaffirmed Lao PDR’s strategic environmental priorities, highlighting key national frameworks such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), the National Plastic Action Plan, the Carbon Credit Decree, and the National Adaptation Plan. He emphasized that advancing a green, net-zero and sustainable development pathway requires coordinated, whole-of-society action, supported by innovation and practical solutions.

Ms. Therer highlighted the critical role of finance in translating Lao PDR's environmental commitments into concrete outcomes. "Achieving Lao PDR's ambitions demands investment at a scale that public resources alone cannot meet," she said. "Green finance is not simply about mobilizing new resources; it is about ensuring that all financial flows, public and private, advance climate and environmental outcomes."

She also pointed to progress already underway, including the establishment of the Climate and Sustainable Finance Hub within the Ministry of Finance, ongoing efforts to develop investment-ready pipelines, and key policy reforms such as the Carbon Finance Decree and the national green taxonomy framework. Together, she noted, these represent the architecture of a more coherent and sustainable financing pathway for Lao PDR.

The Forum featured a high-level panel discussion on financing green growth and climate transition, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Finance, the Investment Promotion and Management Committee, and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Parallel afternoon sessions addressed biodiversity conservation, pollution management, and climate action, featuring open dialogue with youth, civil society, local communities, and the private sector.

The event comes as the Lao PDR advances the implementation of the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (10th NSEDP), which places green growth at the center of the country's development vision and fulfills its international commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.