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COP27: Russian invasion of Ukraine released 8 mn MT of carbon till September – report
At least eight million tonnes carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent have been emitted from February to September this year as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, that started on February 24, 2022, a team of researchers announced at Sharm El-Sheikh November 9, 2022.The greenhouse gas impact of reconstruction efforts in the war-ravaged country is in the range of 48.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions equivalent, according to The Initiative of GHG Accounting of War.
The team consists of internationally renowned experts from various institutions and Ukrainians. It is led by Lennard De Klerk, a leading expert in greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting.The team presented its findings regarding GHG emissions released from military operations as a report during a side event, titled Dealing with military and conflict-related emissions under the UNFCCC.The report was released at a side event during the ongoing 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The GHG emissions were quantified in four areas: Movement of warfare, fires, movement of refugees, and civilian infrastructure.Climate policy and carbon expert Olga Gassan-zade, a representative of the initiative said: “We made a detailed analysis to the extent we possibly can of the GHG impact of the war and military action itself. This included troop movements, fuel consumption, and military aircraft and also impact of explosives and ammunition in Ukraine.”
At least 6,215 fires spread over a total area of 486,162 hectares were caused by the ammunition and bombs during the seven months of the study period or the first 214 days of the war.
The total number of fires increased by 112 times on 38 times the total area compared to the same period in 2021. Gassan-zade said: “In total, we estimate fires directly caused by military action accounted for 23 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.”
At least 1.4 million tonnes of GHG emissions have been released due to the movement of refugees, both within Ukraine and to Europe, the findings said.
Damaged forests
A representative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine said from February 24 onward, 224,956 explosive devices were fired by Russian troops. Some 2,130 aircraft bombs were neutralised and phosphorous shells banned by international law were regularly unleashed on Ukraine.This led to unprecedented amounts of air pollution, which translates to monetary losses amounting to 24.6 billion Euros in Ukraine, she said.The war caused widespread damage to forests in Ukraine; 450,000 hectares of forestland are occupied by troops and are considered to be part of the hostilities zone. Currently, 10 national parks, eight national reserves, and two biosphere reserves are under occupation too.
Some 2.9 million hectares of Emerald Network sites are under threat of destruction. The Emerald Network is an ecological network to conserve natural habitats and their biodiversity in Europe.Sixteen of Ukraine’s 50 Ramsar Sites, or wetlands of international importance, and 20 per cent of all protected areas are under threat, the official said in her brief. She added that permanent damage to Ukraine’s soil amounted to 11.4 billion Euros in losses.
However, 2.45 million hectares of forest and 27 forestry enterprises have been liberated from occupation, and need to be restored.The war also caused damage to 497 water management facilities in Ukraine. According to a World Bank assessment, it would cost 7.71 billion Euros for the restoration of irrigation, drainage, and hydro-technical structures over a 10-year period.Gassan-zade said: “Besides the humanitarian impact of war, little has been known about the environmental impact of the war. This is the first assessment so far and we will be continuously updating it till the war ends.”
“So far national accounting allows exclusion of military emissions due to confidentiality rules and significant parts of military emissions relate to international bunker (transport) fuels that are not covered by the Paris Agreement,” Axel Michaelowa, senior founding partner of the Perspectives Climate Group said.
“We would suggest that reporting for military and conflict-related emissions under the Paris Agreement be urgently included under the global stocktake for COP28, national inventory guidelines of the IPCC, and as a section for the 7th IPCC Assessment Report,” Michaelowa added. – Down to Earth
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
