Rio+20, Sri Lanka and the future we want

20 June 2012 06:32 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

By Senel Wanniarachchi. He is a Rio+20 Fellow at the Adopt a Negotiator Project.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Environment is reportedly pursuing active preparations for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, commonly known as Rio+20. It is learnt that President Rajapaksa will be visiting Brazil himself joining some 130 world leaders to attend the High Level Segments of the summit which many term is the most important global conference of this decade.

Post-war Sri Lanka should seize Rio+20 as an opportunity (and not a threat) for the ongoing development agenda of the government.

Green Jobs vs. Youth Unemployment
Youth unemployment in Sri Lanka is soaring: standing, nearly at a whopping 20%. More still, are underemployed. Central to the discussions in Rio is the idea of a Green Economy. Is the concept of Green jobs compatible with the Sri Lankan status quo? Would introducing Green Jobs cost the Sri Lankan economy more and more jobs? Many argue that greening the job market will only add extra pressure on young school-leavers and undergraduates who are already under enough pressure by growing demands for soft-skills.

Green jobs advocates, however, point out that, the hard work of decarbonising economy will actually create hundreds of new jobs, in addition to sprouting up jobs in new technological fields such as alternative energy. They stress that low-carbon, climate resilient, environmentally friendly jobs, like all things Green, is not a mere doable, but rather a need of the day.

Fossil Fuel Subsides
Sri Lanka’s submission to the United Nations as its expected outcome from Rio+20 says “promotion of renewable energy sources as opposed to fossil fuel based energy is the better solution for the increasing energy demand and as a climate change mitigation measure. Potential for wind, biomass and solar energy development is significant in Sri Lanka. …It is necessary to develop the innovative investment plans to effectively develop potential renewable energy sources in the country.” Fossil fuels still amount to almost half of the countries’ fuel consumption. In the status quo, while fuel prices have sky rocketed; this was resulted by fluctuations in global prices. This hasn’t resulted in a considerable drop in consumers of fossil energy.

The impacts of fuel hikes aren’t necessarily negative when coupled with alternative ventures such as improvements in the system of public transport and the redistribution of funds collected through price hikes among the vulnerable of populations.

Climate equity
“As an emerging economy, the challenge for Sri Lanka is to achieve sustainable high economic growth with greater equity, whilst integrating into the process of globalisation, achieving permanent peace and rehabilitating and reconstructing the war affected areas. A sustainable high level of economic growth must be ensured without causing irreversible damage to the environment... Sri Lanka needs to accelerate economic growth in order to meet the rising expectations of a growing population, about a quarter of which is still below the poverty line” The document goes on to suggest that the government will make a large push for what it terms ‘climate equity at the upcoming summit.

Whilst not downplaying the crucial aspects of international climate justice that need to be addressed, climate justice also refers to what happens within nations.
Even though our achievements in improving social conditions, health and education and the Millennium Development Goals are encouraging, we should focus inequalities that exist in our society.

With its favela slum areas and large departmental stores, where better could one discuss inequality; than Rio de Janeiro?
As “a tropical island is prone to natural disasters and climate induced risks such as sea level rise, extended droughts, increased floods and landslides and changes in the biodiversity” these conspicuous disparities are apparent during natural disasters. When disasters strike, it’s the poor that is predominantly affected: at least in most cases. This is partly because the poor reside in areas which are more vulnerable and prone to disasters, such as the coastal belt.

There is very little reference in the ongoing discussions for the outcome document of Rio+20 on financing, technology transfers or funding. With the rest of the G77, we should push for more subsidies “external assistance for technical, financial and skilled human capital for country driven priorities to integrate the various development scenarios, social and environment related concerns together in the country.”

Sri Lanka should play the role in Climate and sustainability negotiations that the Maldives did under the leadership of President Mohamed Nasheed, who emerged as a spokesman for small island states affected by sea level rising resulted by climate change.

We Sri Lankans have had firsthand experience in being victimised by sea level rising. After all, President Rajapaksa is as much an ‘Island President’ as much as President Nasheed was.

If our actions at Rio+20 are too little, it will surely be too late.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Rio+20, Sri Lanka and the future we want

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

Suspicious death of 23-year-old woman at hotel sparks concerns

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

New Visa procedure implemented

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

Belgian traveller scammed in Kalutara

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

Catholic Church receives full report

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win