Prudent investments in green growth strategies:

Way to ensure long term sustainability

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Prudent investments in application of green growth strategies will be the way forward to ensure long term sustainability of the country which is imperative to achieve sustainable and equitable development, former Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Padmini Batuwitage said.

Speaking on "Adopting green growth strategies in Sri Lanka" at the symposium on "Facing contemporary development challenges of Sri Lanka" to commemorate 100th birth anniversary of Dr E.F Schumacher, she said ample policies are currently available to improve efficient resources use and reduce wastage. However, effective implementation of these policies is required to combine policies, regulations, incentives, technologies and financial resources with public private partnerships.

Sri Lanka needs a skilled human resource base to support application of green growth strategies island wide and it is necessary to take steps to integrate environmental concerns sufficiently into the schools, vocational institutes and university education systems to face the present and emerging global and local challenges effectively and efficiently. This approach will create more green and decent jobs for the youth in Sri Lanka securing their future more sustainable, she said.

Batuwitage said in line with Dr Schumacher's framework, Sri Lanka can transform many of the challenges of the present multiple crisis into opportunities if the citizens are sufficiently empowered with necessary skills and know-how to identify appropriate technologies for the country, engage in responsible livelihoods and life styles. "The knowledge, organization and discipline are the three key elements that make development interventions effective to produce desired outcomes according to Dr Schumacher's emphasis, she said.

The present global crises related to finance, economics, energy, fuel, food, security and wider environment bear testimony to the ill effects of profit oriented economic growth models that ignored limits to growth.

While technological advancements have improved the standards of living of communities dramatically, such achievements have created mixed results with global environmental degradation and widening the gap between rich and poor due to uneven and unsustainable development, she said.

The seminar was organized by Rainbow Pvt Ltd.