Minister laments damage to developing nations’ environment

Wasantha Ramanayake

The damage to the environment in developing nations’ by the world’s richest countries is more than the entire debt of the developing countries to the developed world, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said in a statement at a panel discussion on “Climate Change - Challenge to Sri Lanka” in Colombo recently.

The Minister referred to the study saying that rich countries had inflicted a damage of US$ 2.3 trillion on developing countries as against the US$ 740 million damage by developing countries on the rich.

The Minister added that the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index Report (HDIR) ranks most developed countries on top in terms of certain economic and human development but would see an altogether different picture if their respective contribution to global warming or the “very critical environment element” would be integrated into the HDIR.

He noted that the rate of build up of Green House Gases (GHG) in the environment was not possible to reduce the GHG concentration by trees through carbon absorption even if the entire planet was reforested.

The Minister said the need was for a full commitment of the industrialised nations for greater emission cuts and that too based on an agreed short-term time frame.

He said only larger countries benefit by the Carbon Credit system and not the poor.

He noted that Sri Lanka had highlighted at the Bali Conference, the need for the early implementation of the Adaptation Fund from the projects of Clean Development Mechanism which would benefit the developing countries and the need for bringing additional resources from the Kyoto mechanism to strengthen it.

The Minister emphasised that the technological transfer from the developed nations to developing countries is critical to infuse clean and efficient technologies. The panellists came out with various challenges posed by climate change and adaptation and mitigation measures which had been implemented in their respective fields before delegates from foreign missions, activist etc.

The panel included Minister Ranawaka, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Renton de Alwis, BOI Chairman Dhammika Perera, World Conservation Union Country Representative Dr. Ranjith Mahindapala and Hiran Cooray, Managing Director of Jetwing Hotels. Foreign Ministry Secretary Palitha Kohona was the moderator.

The event was hosted by the Foreign Ministry.