All possible measures to minimize impacts of climate change - Fowzie
 

by P. Krishnaswamy

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources was doing everything possible within its reach to minimise the impacts of climate change which had become a matter of survival for the country's plantation and agricultural sectors, said Minister A. H. M. Fowzie, delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the international training workshop on 'Capacity Building for Climate Change and Sustainable Development', at Hotel Trans Asia last Monday. Climate change had already become a noticeable phenomenon in Sri Lanka, he also said.

The three day workshop which was participated by Sri Lankan and foreign environmental scientists and experts commenced on June 1. It has been co-organised by the Munasinghe Insititute for Development (MIND), United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR) and their international partners - EDNA Senegal and ERC South Africa.

Minister Fowzie also said that climate change affected all sectors of the economy and ,therefore, sustainable development strategy would have to be adjusted accordingly so that its adverse impacts could be overcome, he said.

"Economic development focusing on material output is not a path that Sri Lanka can afford to follow. While development goals are pursued we have to preserve our environment as well as our social fabric.

This is the challenge for us for the future", the Minister said.