Issues and Challenges in the preparation of the Second National

Communication of Sri Lanka

Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda

Sri Lanka

Second AIACC Regional Workshop for Asia Pacific Islands

Pasay City, Philippines

2-5 November 2004

Introduction

• Sri Lanka submitted its initial national communication (INC) in 2000

• Climate Change Enabling Activity Project Phase II has also been completed

• Now Sri Lanka is planning to prepare its second national communication (SNC)

• Sri Lanka still faces some issues in the preparation of its Second National Communication (SNC)

Issues

The latest available GHG inventory of the

country is for year 1994

There is no mechanism to update the GHG

emission inventory

No funds allocated for preparation of GHG

inventory

Issues

• Adequate steps have not been taken for the assessment of vulnerability of the different sectors to climate change impacts particularly vulnerability of coastal region to the sea level rise, vulnerability of agriculture, plantation industrial and tourism sectors

Issues

• Information is not available on the vulnerability of crops such as coconut, high-grown tea, minor export crop varieties and vegetables and cash crops.

• How small holders in the food crop sector could adapt to extreme climatic events

• How people could adapt to increasing health risks need to be studied.

• No information is available on emissions and mitigation e.g. livestock farming, shifting cultivation, industry, transport and the energy sector.

Issues

• Development and introduction of adaptation measures to various sectors

• Impacts of adaptation to measures of reducing GHG emissions in the industrial transport and agriculture sectors sector

• Adaptation to measures of reducing GHG emissions in the industrial, transport and agricultural sectors

Issues

• Poverty and climate change impacts not been studied

• Adaptation strategies have not been developed for low income communities

• Climate change and food security has not been studied

Issues

• Database on climate change for provinces and regions is very weak.

• Even basic data on the variability of rain fall and temperature; extreme climatic events; and their impacts are not available for some regions or provinces.

Issues

• A significant proportion of the research studies under Phase II have been confined to a few areas in the country, notably the Southern, North Western and Central Provinces

• Nearly two- thirds of the Research Studies were undertaken in these provinces.

Technological needs

• Assessment of vulnerability

• Introducing adaptation measures

• Adaptation to measures of reducing GHG emissions

Technological needs - Coastal zone

• Preparation of coastal data base and study the impacts of salt water intrusion and vulnerability of coastal areas to sea level rise

• Mapping and demarcating the 1 or 2 meter contour from the sea to study sea level rise impacts

• Undertake investigations on the impacts of sea level rise and temperature rise on coral reef systems around the coastal belt

Technological needs - Energy• Harness the total maximum identified potential of

hydropower

• Improve transmission and distribution system to bring down the current energy losses.

• Commission studies on energy recovery from waste

• Encourage commercial fuel wood plantations.

• Promote renewable energy technologies.

• Replace existing use of fossil fuel with low GHG emitting fuels in electricity generation, industry, commercial and household sector

Technological needs - Industry

• Promote proper solid waste management with methane recovery

• Develop an inventory on emissions from different industries

• Develop mechanisms to reduce GHG emissions from such industries.

• Adopt energy efficient building codes and standardization and labelling of energy consuming end use equipment.

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Technological needs -Transport

• Improve traffic management systems through the use of information technology

• Introduce a suitable vehicle inspection and monitoring programme

• Integrate bus-rail operation through proper network planning

• Adopt an appropriate road pricing systems

• Enforce and monitor emission standards for motor vehicles

Technological needs - Agriculture

• Identification of agro-ecological zones sensitive to climate change impacts

• Promotion of rain-fed farming

• Development of integrated farming system in relation to climate change

• Minimize nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture with new fertilizers and practices

• Alter breeding criteria for crop varieties with high carbon dioxide sequestration and climate adaptive varieties

Technological needs - Forestry• Preparation of data base to understand

linkages between climate change and forestry

• Study the forestry sector potential for carbon sequestration

• Determine the dynamic equilibrium of host/parasite relationship in new climate environment

• Promote urban forestry to establish vegetation in urban & metropolitan areas.

Technological needs - Water

• Assessment of the extent of land that will be affected by Sea level rise

• Assessment of the impact of climate change on river flow regimes

• Prepare a groundwater extraction regulation policy

• Introduce monitoring systems for groundwater extraction & water quality assessment in vulnerable areas.

Technological needs - Health and human settlement

• Undertaking studies on diseases relevant to climate change

• Mapping of flood plains and flood hazards for selected major rivers

• Development of strong wind and cyclone resistant building standards and guidelines

• Identification and prioritization of vulnerable areas for human settlements

• Establish work environment and occupational safety standards for local conditions.

Challenges• Non-availability of experts on full time basis

for working in the climate change field – Part time academics are available only when they are free

• Limited capacity of in country experts on some issues

• Limited availability of specific studies and relevant research

• Inadequate time and funds for undertaking specific studies and research on impacts of climate change

challenges

• Weak institutional arrangements

• No full time senior staff officer has been appointed for climate change activities

• Inadequate awareness on climate change issues at all levels

• No dedicated institution for preparing national communications and updating GHG inventory i.e. the team that prepared the INC is not available for preparing SNC

• The government adopting an ad hoc project by project approach to prepare National Communications and climate change issues

Recommendations• Establishment of a dedicated institution to

implement UNFCC activities is an urgent need

• This institution should be headed by a senior officer and supported by a adequate staff and financial resources

• Permanent unit and a team should undertake preparation of National Communications and update of GHG inventory

• Immediate steps should be taken to build the capacity of academics and professionals in the country and encourage them to engage in climate related research and activities.

Recommendations

• Funds for undertaking specific studies and research on impacts of climate change should be made available on long term basis.

• Unless long term research projects are established expected results cannot be achieved.

• Usually available fund are short term and difficult to undertake long term studies

Recommendations

• Awareness creation is important at all levels on the importance of addressing climate change issues.

• Cost of climate change impacts should be estimated, disseminated and used for climate change awareness creation programs

Thank you