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Climate Change and Sri Lanka
In order to supplement the obligations of Sri Lanka to combat climate change, Sri Lanka has developed additional climate change related strategies and policies. Among these are the National Climate Change Policy of 2012 which in its Preamble “contains a vision, mission, goal and a set of guiding principles followed by broad policy statements under Vulnerability, Adaptation, Mitigation, Sustainable Consumption and Production, Knowledge Management and General Statements.”
It further highlights the need for collaborative action at all levels as “necessary to transform this policy into a meaningful set of actions to meet the challenges of climate change.” While the vision of the Policy concentrates on “A future where climate change will have no adverse consequences on Sri Lanka,” (which unfortunately seems a difficulty in reality to accomplish given the content of the new AR5 Working Group 1 Report of the IPCC,) the mission remains, “Addressing climate change issues locally while engaging in the global context.”
The objectives of the Policy are enumerated as being, to “sensitize and make aware the communities periodically on the country’s vulnerability to climate change, take adaptive measures to avoid/minimize adverse impacts of climate change to the people, their livelihoods and ecosystems, “mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the path of sustainable development, promote sustainable consumption and production, enhance knowledge on the multifaceted issues related to climate change in the society and build their capacity to make prudent choices in decision making, develop the country’s capacity to address the impacts of climate change effectively and efficiently, mainstream and integrate climate change issues in the national development process.”
The Policy also has its key focus on the need to recognise and address climate vulnerability on the national agenda, as well as adaptation and mitigation and mentions of food security, agriculture, knowledge management and other related thematic areas on climate change. Furthermore, the Government in partnership with the Asian Development Bank has conducted vulnerability analysis and produced different publications such as the Vulnerability Data Books, which focus on the key sectors deemed to be exacerbating climate change in Sri Lanka i.e Urban Development, Human Settlements and Economic Infrastructure, Water, Agriculture and Fisheries, Health and Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. These areas are seen as key components on the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Sri Lanka 2011-2016.
Climate Change and Civil Society Engagement in Sri Lanka
Apart from State Actors, a key stakeholder group in the activities that are being conducted in Sri Lanka in relation to climate change the Civil Society Organisations. The organisations are not only engaged in the negotiations process of the Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC and the Kyto Protocol on a continued basis, but also conduct grassroots activities and projects that cater to addressing the concerns of those impacted by climate change.
However there remains a need for collaborate actions between government entities and the CSO groups which would provide for more productive results in addressing the concerns of the vulnerable. There has also been the highlighted need for more State policies that could be enforced so as to achieve mitigation targets, while being pro-poor and pro-vulnerable i.e those that facilitate low carbon development which would be of much need given the current focus of economic development in post-war Sri Lanka.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka’s CO2 emissions have increased by 230% over the last 20 years: the world's third highest rate. Therefore there is an increasing need for the government to review its policies, targets and plans.
Firstly, establishing 3300 MW of coal power plants in Sri Lanka does not seem to be a plausible measure which is consistent with the aforementioned international obligations. Not only does a coal power plant have a life expectancy of only some 40 years, any delay in construction of renewable energy power plants by the government will make way for the foreign investors to seize the ever-important renewable energy potential in Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka the annual vehicle tax rates for all vehicles are low. Therefore it is proposed that annual licensing fees levied on commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses, could be set according to environmental criteria, for example on the basis of fuel consumption and at a level high enough to meet the costs of infrastructure and environment. Import of motor vehicles into Sri Lanka is restricted when the age of the vehicles is more than two years old in terms of the provisions of the Import and Export control Act No 01 of 1969. Additionally, a revision of the current taxes levied when a vehicle is registered for the first time in Sri Lanka may also be contemplated by incorporating environmental considerations. In its 2011 budget, Sri Lanka made electric and hybrid cars duty free, while value added tax and rates of depreciation allowed for used cars has also been increased. However in the most recent budget,taxes on hybrid cars with engines below 2,000 cubic centimeters total duties went up from 38 percent close to 50 percent. On hybrids between 2,000 to 3000 cc, the taxes rose nearly 75 percent while for above 3,000 cc, rose 100 percent.
Finally it must be noted that while specialised entities in certain governmental departments, responsible for ensuring compliance of international norms may be conducting commendable progress in their own spheres, a more holistic approach towards sustainable development must be adopted which acknowledges that the integration of economic and developmental policies are a key factor in the process of truly combating climate change.