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As global report warns of climate catastrophe, visiting envoy says Lanka’s future lies in renewable energy
The Sixth Assessment report by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) appraising the climate change situation globally has warned that the global surface temperature will continue to rise until at least the mid-century under all emissions scenarios considered.
The rise in the earth’s average surface temperature will cross the 1.5°C barrier in the next 20 years and the 2°C barrier by the middle of the century, unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades, the report warned.
Ken O'Flaherty, the UK Government's Climate Conference Regional Ambassador for South Asia (see also inset) planting a tree at the Beddegana Wetland Park.
Against this backdrop, Ken O’Flaherty, the UK Government’s Climate Conference Regional Ambassador for South Asia, was in Sri Lanka ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, which is set to be held in Glasgow in October.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times Mr. O’ Flaherty commented on Sri Lanka’s climate change commitments and the way forward. In a series of meetings with officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Environment Ministry, Mr. O’Flaherty discussed the progress made by Sri Lanka with regard to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in line with the Paris Agreement.
Sri Lanka recently submitted its 2021 Nationally Determined Contributions and is set to submit a revised version of the document ahead of the COP26 summit. “The Environment Minister told me that the revision will contain a more ambitious level of emission cuts and a revised Net Zero target — which I very much hope can be set at 2050, in line with other countries in the region.”
Mr. O’Flaherty commended
Sri Lanka’s recent ‘no more coal’ policy and noted that the energy sector would be the key driver of Sri Lanka’s Net Zero Carbon commitments.
Investment in renewable energy is pro-development, but it will also require considerable investment in Sri Lanka’s energy infrastructure over the next decade. “During my talks, I encouraged the Sri Lankan Government to develop detailed plans of the investment needed and set out clear projects where it wants to attract foreign investment,” he said.
He added that he had talks with business leaders — as COP26 Presidency and investors consistently communicate their desire to invest in Asia — but needed clear signals from the Government that such investment would be facilitated and that there would be a return on investment. “I am confident that if Sri Lanka is able to develop a clear implementation plan for its Net Zero target then investment will follow.”
“Sri Lanka has immense potential for cheap, abundant solar and wind energy. So there is scope to rapidly reduce emissions in the years ahead.” This will require investment in energy infrastructure to facilitate the transmission of this new renewable energy.
The envoy said that if these efforts were coupled with moves to protect Sri Lanka’s forests and supported by nature-based solutions such as the protection and restoration of mangroves, then there would be considerable potential for major cuts in Sri Lanka’s overall emissions.
He said he believed that net zero carbon by 2050 was an achievable and welcome target if a coordinated and joined-up approach was taken along with detailed plans for specific sectors such as energy, transport and forestry. “But I am convinced that the leadership being shown by President Rajapaksa means that this is highly achievable.”
Speaking on the impact that Sri Lanka could have on the global climate change movement, Mr. O’Flaherty said Sri Lanka’s position as a country, which is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, potentially gave it a strong moral voice — one that he noted delegates would be keen to amplify ahead of COP26. “By delivering an even more ambitious NDC with a 2050 Net Zero emissions target, Sri Lanka can lead by example in showing the actions which can be taken to limit global warming to 1.5C – and ensure that the world we pass on to our children is a sustainable one.”
He also said there were also measures underway to respond to the X-press Pearl marine catastrophe; on programme activities to support marine and wetland biodiversity (Commonwealth Litter Programme, Blue Planet Fund and Darwin initiative) and through jointly delivered events (e.g. on nitrogen pollution).
While recognising that countries were currently working hard to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted that it was vital that the ongoing climate crisis was not forgotten. “As governments enact stimulus packages to relaunch their economies in the wake of the pandemic, we are encouraging them to heed the advice of the UN Secretary General who is calling for them to invest in renewable energy and green technologies — which have been shown to provide more jobs for citizens and higher growth for economies worldwide.”
He disagreed that environmental damage was a cost of economic growth. “There is no contradiction between strong climate ambition and growth.” On the contrary, Mr. O ‘ Flaherty held that economies in South and South East Asia had an even greater opportunity given that they would in any case be building much larger volumes of infrastructure over the next decade. “So they have the opportunity to gain a competitive edge by leapfrogging the technologies of the last century and investing in the green technologies of the future.”