Lankans most vulnerable to global warming impact - Environment Minister

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

COLOMBO: People in developing countries like Sri Lanka have become most vulnerable to the impact of global warming, Environment Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

“The impact of climate change has come to our doorstep and we must act fast before time runs out if we are to sustain the challenges

emerging from global warming,” he said delivering a lecture at the Library Services Board Auditorium organised by the United Nations Association Sri Lanka (UNA) on Thursday.

He said, although the so-called developed countries are the major culprits of global warming, poor people in developing countries like Sri Lanka have become most vulnerable to the impact of global warming.

“Water resources, coastal zone agriculture, health and human settlement have become most vulnerable and as such immediate measures have to be taken,” Ranawaka said. He pointed out that adoption to the climate change is the main mean while changing lifestyles, expanding the forest cover and taking mitigation measures could help reduce the effects.

Ranawaka said the UN Convention recognises that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other green house gases and the Government also ratified the convention in 1993 in support of the attempts by the global community.

Sri Lanka became a party to the Kyoto Protocol in 2002 considering the opportunities available by participating in the clean house mechanism and other mutual benefits to the country and global community, he said.

UNA Sri Lanka President Rienzie Wijetilake, Executive Chairman Brigadier Elapatha and Secretary General Kumaran Fernando were also present.