'Economics and environment to fore'

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Environment has become a most talked about topic in world political dialogue, Mass Media and Information Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath said.

He was participating at the launch of the Mihithuru Magazine at ANCL yesterday.

Herath said economy was the foremost topic in all political summits earlier. "But now environment has also become a hot topic and of equal importance at economic summits in the world," he said.

"Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emission has become a threat to the whole world. Developed countries emit a large amount of CO2 to the atmosphere. But there are no borders to the atmosphere. Though we are a country with a huge forest cover, we also have to suffer from the CO2 problem. Because of that a new concept has been introduced to the world called carbon credit, " Herath said.

"Development is very much essential to the world. But development activities should not damage the environment. There is a close relationship between the environment and the media. Without the media we cannot express our ideas about the environment," the Secretary said.