Sri Lanka: State of the nation on climate change
With climate change there has been a corresponding increase in the incidence of ‘natural’ disasters. The following have been identified as the key disasters that are directly precipitated by climate change: drought, floods, landslides, cyclones and coastal erosion.
Lowering risks is an integral part of disaster management because this can save lives and minimize damage to life and property. Naturally it is the poor who are most vulnerable in such situations. This is why it is extremely important to launch community based initiatives to create greater awareness among vulnerable peoples and to obtain local knowledge relevant to managing disasters. The responsibilities with respect to this have to be shared by all sectors including the state, non-government organizations, community-based organizations and religious institutions.
The policy statement seeks to:
- Minimize the impact of disasters by providing training for vulnerable populations in areas such as agriculture, land-use and land-preparation, construction, utilizing of marine and coastal resources.
- Build a network of institutions and individuals in all sectors who can provide the necessary infrastructural facilities for vulnerable communities.
- Encourage new technologies that ensure sustainable development practices.
- Introduce more efficient early-warning systems to enhance preparedness to face natural disasters.