Climate Change in Sri Lanka: A Threat to Livelihoods and Communities

Strategic Insights -

Climate change is an increasingly significant threat to the livelihoods of Sri Lankan communities, particularly farmers, workers, and women, who are already struggling with poverty and inequality. The country's economy and environment are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which include rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events.

Key Takeaways:

  • Climate change is expected to degrade the forests, pastures, and crop land that many poor families in Sri Lanka depend on for their food and livelihoods.
  • The country's farmer communities are likely to be affected by changes in rainfall patterns, which could lead to a 20-40% decline in yields of upland crops.
  • Climate change will also reduce the quality and quantity of drinking water, exacerbate malnutrition among children, and increase the prevalence of diseases spread by mosquitoes and water.
  • Adaptation to climate change is essential, and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are also necessary to mitigate its impacts.
  • The government, local communities, NGOs, and the private sector must work together to address climate change, and international support is also critical.
  • The Special Climate Change Fund was established in 2001 to support adaptation efforts, and decisions made in Copenhagen in 2009 could have significant implications for global climate policy.

Statistics:

  • The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased from about 280 to 379 parts per million between 1750 and 2005, and is now increasing at a rate of 1.9 parts per million per year.
  • Global surface temperature is expected to rise by between 1.8 and 2.9 degrees centigrade by 2100.
  • Changes in rainfall patterns will affect up to 40% of Sri Lanka's land area, which could lead to a significant decline in agricultural productivity.

Sources:

  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
  • Daily Mirror Sri Lanka
  • HT Syndication
  • Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.