National policy on sustainable development

By Dr. Srilal de Silva,President of the Sri Lanka
Association for Quality (SLAQ)

With growing emphasis on global warming and issues of pollution, the need for a National Policy for Sustainable Development (NPSD) is being strongly felt as a preventive measure and some related issues such as solid waste disposal becoming key issues for maintaining the social infrastructure moving.

The growing concern for earthquakes and tsunami has changed Sri Lanka’s outlook as a disaster free country.

The changes in weather patters leading to floods and droughts in South Asia with serious concerns on rising sea levels with neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Maldives and also some parts of India becoming affected seriously a national approach for sustainable development needs recognition by national policy makers.

Alternate uses of energy- solar, wind as well as bio-fuels and industries focusing on these energy sources will play an important role in NPSD.
NPSD needs to recognize the causes for global disorders and some areas which need consideration are given below;

•Emissions to air,
•Release to water
•Release to land
•Use of raw material and natural resources
•Use of energy
•Energy emitted (e.g. heat, radiation vibration)
•Waste and by products, and
•Physical attributes (e.g. size, shape, colour and appearance)

Available records of past reported incidences as well as statistics to be used in developing the NPSD performances.
Based on available information that emission of gases and releasing pollutants to water and land are taking the lead in affecting national progress, use of raw materials (water, sand, clay) and natural resources (forest, beaches) and use of energy (petroleum, electricity) should be given the priority.

Use of operations related to the utilization of waste products arising from a varying range of human activities including industries should be recognized under the NPSD. Fisheries and coconut industries are areas where waste is converted into profitable by-products.

In addressing the above issues it is necessary that organizational behaviours are integrated into the NPSD. Operations directed at research and development where new product designs and processes, such as cleaner production techniques as well as eco-friendly packaging materials as well as safe storage and transport of petroleum products and gases are some key issues that need recognition.

The environmental impact associated with the construction industry is closely linked with environmental and pollution issues. The industry which uses a high level of resources (sand, motor, clay, steel, timber, etc) with the related industries has a direct impact.

The main support industries such as cement with emissions and heavy use of raw materials and energy, asbestos with similar links create added pollution issues (asbestos fibbers).

The architectural designs could play a role with designs to reduce consumption of building materials as well as energy for air-conditioning etc.

Many other related industries such as electrical products, insulation and paint contribute to the situation with emissions to land and water as well as the use of raw materials.

The other significant environmental impacts are seen in the transport industry. Use of vehicles with high emissions need to be discouraged with heavy duty for such vehicles, monitoring of the condition of the vehicles as well as incentives for alternate energy users should be awarded.

In this regard due consideration should be given to organizational aspects such as;

•Design and development
•Manufacturing processes
•Packaging and transportation
•Environmental performance and practices of contractors and suppliers
•Waste mismanagement
•Extraction and distribution of raw material and natural resources
•Distribution, use and end-of-life of products, and
•Wildlife and biodiversity

These services are essential components of high standards of living and adequate consideration should be given to the above global issues and the NPSD needs to address incentive packages for such operations with an eco friendly approach such as tax incentives including tax holidays, loans at reduced rates, rebates on insurance, land policy for forestry are some areas that could be addressed.

The monitoring of these activities require national legislations, testing facilities and trained personnel. These monitoring activities need to be backed up with internationally recognized certification programmes such as ISO 14001 and ADR certification for transport of dangerous goods.

Recognition for these service providers such as testing, training and certification as well as those organizations using these services for environmental management in the NPSD will encourage organizations to invest in these respective areas.

Co-ordination of a larger number of ministries and the respective boards and institutions handling different aspects of this programme ranging from coast conservation, aquatic life, forestry needs to act in unison toward implementing the NPSD effectively.

It should be the social responsibility of leading businesses in Sri Lanka to actively participate in this programme and ensure issues related to global warming and pollution are adequately considered in their own operations.

Those businesses which give due consideration for global issues need to be recognized.