Opinion: Stronger environmental governance and supply chain accountability are needed to address Myanmar's rare earth mining crisis
"Myanmar’s Rare Earth: The Hidden Costs of the Global Green Transition", 1 June 2026
The rapid expansion of rare earth extraction in Myanmar [...] deeply connected to fragmented governance systems that intensified following the 2021 military coup.
[...] the post-coup crisis generated overlapping systems of competing authority [...]. In many extraction zones across northern Myanmar, governance operates through negotiated control, informal taxation systems, and localized power arrangements rather than centralized state regulation.
Myanmar’s rare earth sector, [...], illustrates how conflict-affected borderlands can become integrated into global supply chains through systems of shadow governance [...].
The environmental consequences of rare earth extraction in Myanmar [...] poorly regulated mining contaminated waterways, destroyed forests, and generated massive long-term cleanup costs. [...].
This dynamic raises broader questions about environmental governance, supply chain accountability, and the political economy of climate transition policies. [...]
Addressing [...] requires stronger international cooperation, conflict-sensitive environmental governance, and improved supply chain accountability.
Key priorities include:
- Strengthening environmental monitoring in conflict-affected extraction areas and tightening regulations [...].
- Improving transparency and traceability [...].
- Expanding responsible sourcing standards [...].
- Enhancing regional cooperation [...].
- Encouraging ASEAN to take a more active role [...].