Lanka understands the importance of maintaining balance between environment and human needs

– Prez tellsWorld Leaders Dialogue on Climate Change

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said Sri Lanka with its rich philosophical heritage shaped by the teachings of the Buddha,fully understands the importance of balancing environmental boundaries with human needs.

The President this observation, participating at the virtual High-Level Meeting on Delivering Climate Action for People, Planet and Prosperity convened by President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid yesterday (27).

The High-Level Thematic Debate on Delivering Climate Action: For People, Planet and Prosperity

commenced under the patronage of UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York and the Heads of States of UN member countries and representatives joined the conference via video link.

The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed States’ capacities, just when they were needed most to address our climate priorities. Given the urgency this moment requires, the President of the General Assembly convened a high-level meeting on Delivering Climate Action – for People, for Planet and for Prosperity.

President Rajapaksa stressed that developed nations should fulfil their commitments to help the planet heal and said that developing countries need meaningful multilateral and bilateral support to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation activities.

“We are at a critical time in human history. As such, Climate change needs to be addressed urgently and decisively,” he said.

The President said internationally, Sri Lanka was proud to be a co-lead of the Energy Compact for ‘No New Coal Power’ and added that Sri Lanka also leads the Action Group on Mangrove Ecosystems and Livelihoods under the Commonwealth Blue Charter Initiative.

Sri Lanka seeks to halve Nitrogen Waste by 2030 through the Colombo Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management. The President assured that Sri Lanka’s domestic policy framework was focussed on sustainability. To give effect to it, he said the country was taking steps to limit overuse of artificial fertilizers, thereby addressing health concerns as well as helping reduce Nitrogen waste.

“Sri Lanka targets achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and the country is moving towards the aim to increase the contribution of renewable energy sources to 70% of national energy needs by 2030”, President Gotabaya said.

To achieve those laudable objectives, President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka welcomed assistance through technology transfers, skills development, investment, and financing support for the country’s sustainable development agenda.

During the discussion, the focus was on the existing and required gap between the technical skills and financial capacities and on how to bridge the gap.