Council for sustainable development mooted

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry will set up a National Council for Sustainable Development.

Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawake said a national action plan called Haritha (Green) Lanka Program will be implemented from 2010 to 2016 for the sustainable development of the country.

Minister Ranawake

He was speaking at a seminar on Global Warming and Green Economy organised by the Ceylon Institute of Builders together with Central Environment Authority.

Ranawake said the world is facing multifaceted socio-economic and environmental global crises, mainly financial, fuel, food and water crisis due to unsustainable use of natural resources.

One of major causes of these environmental problems is the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which results in global warming and climate change.

“Impacts of climate change will deprive livelihood of inhabitants as a consequence of sea level rise, extreme weather pattern like storms, cyclones, high intensity of rainfall and severe droughts,” he said.

The main reason to this unsustainable path is the use of limited natural resources to meet unlimited human needs by using modern technology. This has created a severe impact on the environment.

Ranawake said fossil fuel is about to decline from 2015. After 2050 it will no longer be an economically viable product. Now 86 percent of global economic activities are based on it. The emission quota for this century ended on September 25 this year.

The ecological footprint is higher than the bio-capacity. Since the beginning of 1980s, countries are running on ecological debt.

The Haritha Lanka Program will meet these challenges. this concept will ensure the sustainable development among the different stakeholders of ever-growing production and consumption process.

Ceylon Institute of Builders President Dr Rohan Karunarathna said it is a common feature to see construction for development with the least concern for environmental backlashes.

The seminar covered how to deal with most of such situations and circumstances where mitigatory measures would be possible and where it will not be revisable.