• Version
• Download 7
• File Size 2,500KB
• File Count 1
• Publish Date October 12, 2016
• Last Updated May 21, 2022

National Adaption Plan for Climate Change in Sri Lanka (2016-2025)

Climate change impacts are looming over every conceivable level; global, regional, national and local that calls for multi-level action. Sri Lanka, a tropical nation, is highly vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change. National level actions have to play a critical role while international cooperation is also important. Recognizing this responsibility, the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) has launched a national initiative to face the impacts of climate change. The Climate Change Secretariat of the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment plays the leadership role in this activity which is the National Focal Point for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), spearheads the process. Among the key national initiatives, the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Sri Lanka 2011-2016 prepared in 2010 and the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) adopted in 2012 are the two major achievements. The National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka (NAP) is the next logical step of the National initiatives for meeting the adverse effects of climate change adaptation.

The National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka (NAP) was prepared in line with the broad set of guidelines set forth by the UNFCCC for the development of national adaptation plans. The NAP process of UNFCCC is a generalized process consisting of four stages that could be customized according to specific situations in respective countries. The NAP process in Sri Lanka started from the stage of preparatory elements, which is the real planning stage of the process, and a country-specific NAP methodology was developed and adopted based on the broader guidelines of the UNFCCC. The importance of adaptation as a major strategy for facing the threat of climate change has been recognized by all parties to Paris Agreement and called for national actions for adaptation under Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). The necessity of adaptive strategies has also been highlighted by number of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015.

The NAP covers adaptation needs at two levels, namely; adaptation needs of key vulnerable sectors and cross-cutting national needs of adaptation. Nine vulnerable sectors were identified in the consultative process, i.e. food security, water, coastal sector, health, human settlements, bio-diversity, tourism and recreation, export development and industry- energy-transportation. Broader stakeholder consultation adopted in the preparation of the NAP has helped to identify adaptation needs of each vulnerable sector based on logical criteria involving projections, vulnerabilities, impacts and socioeconomic outcomes. The NAP identifies adaptation options that can fulfill these needs and actions necessary to achieve these adaptation options with responsible agencies and key performance indicators. They together constitute the sectoral action plans for each vulnerable sector. The NAP also includes interventions necessary to fulfill cross-cutting national needs of adaptation identified on the basis of analyzing common sectoral needs and opinions of key stakeholders. The plan also proposes an institutional and coordination mechanism along with implementation and resource mobilization strategies for the successful implementation of the NAP based on a realistic timeframe.

Attached Files