CHARNIKA IMBULANA MUNASINGHE
COLOMBO : President Ranil Wickremesinghe sending one of the strongest of messages yet, on the urgency of expediting action on plans combating climate change said “countries unwilling to do their part to stop the climate crisis are guilty of committing genocide”.
President Wickremesinghe made this passionate statement while addressing the 5th Forum of Ministers & Environment Authorities of the Asia Pacific at the Shangri La Hotel in Colombo today, 5th October.
Almost 40 countries with their delegations gathered at the conference were impressed upon by the President firstly of the pressing climate concerns the world is facing today. He cited the alarming estimate from the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stating that global warming is projected to reach a dangerous 1.5 degrees Celsius between 2030 and 2052.
“Humanity is facing an existential threat” he declared. He highlighted the interlinked crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, emphasizing the devastating impact on individuals and communities worldwide.
The President also expressed deep concern over the state of global Biodiversity. He lamented that the world has already 8% of known animal species, with 22% at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction and invasive species. “We are now losing biodiversity up-to 10.000 times faster than it was disappearing 100 years ago” he warned.
After addressing the urgency of the Climate crisis, President Wickremesinghe then spoke on Sri Lanka’s commitment to addressing these challenges.
Speaking of the current status, the President stressed that despite Sri Lanka’s minor global emissions contribution (0.03%), the country is dedicated to significant reductions.
The President announced Sri Lanka’s accomplishments as follows;
- The national policy on waste management formulated, covering nine categories of general and hazardous waste.
- The National Policy on chemical management formulated, to streamline chemical management in the country.
- The National Policy on sustainable consumption and production in 2019.
- The Green Procurement Policy and the Green Labeling framework will come into effect this year.
He pledged to accelerate nature-based solutions, including renewable energy, through Sri Lanka’s Prosperity Plan, which was launched at COP 27. “Sri Lanka is in the process of renewing the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan 2016 to 2022 to achieve the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Diversity Framework”, he announced.
“Sri Lanka aims to achieve a 14.5% reducation in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, generate 70% of its electricity for renewable sources, and attain a 32% forest cover, phase out coal power by 2042 and reach net zero emissions by 2050,” he said.
The President informed, the following are underway;
- A New Climate Change Act to be enacted
- A National Environment Act to address the triple planetary crisis in the context of new knowledge and practices.
- The Net Zero 2050 roadmap for Sri Lanka to be launched at COP 28.
- A National Policy on living entities to conserve pristine ecosystems.
“We are starting our transition to a Green Economy, but there is a cost. The Climate Prosperity Plan which spans from 2023 to 2042, will require 26.5 billion U.S. dollars. The implementation of the Net Zero 2050 roadmap will require over 100 billion dollars. The list is not over “, he said.
President Wickramasinghe raised the following crucial questions. “Where are we going to source these resources from? We cannot source all this money from within the country. The problem is not only confined to Sri Lanka.
Developing countries require financing upto 5.9 trillion US dollars to fulfill their NDC’s upto 2030. A further 4 trillion U.S. dollars is required per annum for clean energy technology to achieve net zero emissions by 2050“, he revealed.
“Who will contribute? he asked. Is it the developed nations? EU, UK, Norway, among others, say all countries are liable to pay.
The questions of criteria. Who will receive the funds? Where to house the fund? World Bank or UNFCC. Where do you find the money for the fund? Is it re- channeling existing funds or new additional funds?
President Wickremesinghe giving examples of key countries being pre occupied with their respective country’s issues such as ; elections, Ukraine war and Indo-pacific tensions said that due to great power rivalries, geopolitical interests and in many cases domestic policy, that it’s not feasible to expect robust leadership on climate change matters. What is missing therefore is leadership, money and action he said and he expressed as his views, with suggestions of logical solutions as follows-;
- Asia Pacific and others in the global South need to galvanize an alternate leadership mechanism
- A Climate Justice Forum- to ensure the countries least responsible for climate change would not bear a disproportionate share of the loss.
- Convert the 100 billion SDI initiatives available to the IMF into actions and positive outcomes.
- The developed economies, be held accountable for meeting their net zero targets at least by 2040. (If they fail to stay in line with these targets, such countries, be required to compensate the rest of the world. (These funds can help with the financing requirements for climate mitigation)
- Press ahead with Kenya’s call for debt relief for low-income countries.
- Finalize the loss and damage funds.
- All developed countries must contribute to the fund.
- Call for voluntary contributions by the developing countries, especially those exceeding the 2050 target.
Endorsing the serious action taken to exert pressure legally on Climate Justice President Wickremesinghe said the Vanavatu Resolution has taken the issue of Climate Change before the international Court of Justice. “This is a start of a process of recognizing climate justice as a human right. It is the core of the Right to Life. All other rights flow from the Right to Life” he said stressing on the seriousness further and on the importance and the urgency of Climate action.
Ali Salajegheh, Vice President of Iran and Head of Iran’s Department of Environment, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEO) Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Minister of Environment Sri Lanka, Naseer Ahmed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, Justice Minister, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, Fisheries Minister, Douglas Devananda, President’s Senior Advisor on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka, Chief of Defense Staff, General Shavendra Silva, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Anil Jayasnghe, Representative of the Major Group for Children and Youth, Aniva Marie Clark and representatives from member countries of the Asia Pacific region and Professionals participated in the event.
(The writer is a Senior Journalist and was a Member of Sri Lanka’s Presidential Media Delegation at the COP 21, and was witness to the historic Paris Agreement and did media coverage for the Daily Financial Times. The current Sri Lanka President Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka at the time.)
