15 March 2019 11:48 am
Sri Lanka is rapidly moving to integrate renewable energy such as solar, wind, wave and biogas to our energy mix to minimize oil and coal use, President Maithripala Sirisena said.
Speaking at the 4th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA4) in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday, the President said Sri Lanka has taken several ground level smart initiatives for policy formulation and implementation toward greening under my Government’s “Blue-Green” approach covering both land and ocean.
The National Policy on Urban Air Quality Management ensures clean air for a healthy Nation or the ‘Clean Air 2025 Action Plan.’ Oil based transport and power sectors have been identified as the main source of emission. Therefore, importation of vehicles were restricted to EURO IV standards, the President said.
The President said that Sri Lanka has initiated in co-sponsoring 4 resolutions for UNEA4, along with other partnering countries on; Conservation of Mangroves, Marine Litter and Micro-plastics, Solid Waste Management, and Food Losses and Waste. “ I am pleased to state that Sri Lanka is the first country in the South Asian region, to prepare a Sustainable Consumption and Production Policy, with the assistance of SWITCH-ASIA Policy Support Initiative,” he emphasized.
President Sirisena said the biggest challenge faced by the farmers in Sri Lanka was the uncertain climatic conditions.
“Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for people living in the rural areas of Sri Lanka and it has much potential for greening and to be climate smart. We like to see Sustainable Consumption and Production and science and technology are applied in our Agriculture,” he said.
The President said that Sri Lanka is hosting the 18th Conference of Parties of CITES in Sri Lanka this May.