Global warming; a problem for Sri Lanka too: Anil Jasinghe

The island states are most likely to be affected by the environmental damage caused by global warming and the impact on countries such as Sri Lanka, in particular, is very high, Environment Ministry Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe said.

He said compared to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Glasgow City, Scotland later this year, a preface has been presented by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 

They emphasize that global warming is out of control, Dr. Jasinghe said. 

Ten years ago, it was agreed that all countries in the world should keep global warming below 1.5-2 Celsius. But now this figure has risen to 1.2.

As a result, floods and droughts around the world have been caused by climate change. Everyone should take note that the IPCC has warned that this situation could become even more serious in the future. The panel therefore calls on world leaders and all to act in accordance with the policies adopted to control global warming.

Dr. Jasinghe appreciated the special report issued by the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres regarding climate and global warming as a red sign for humanity.

"The IPCC released their sixth Climate Change Assessment Report on August 9. The UN Secretary-General's report is entirely a warning report on climate change and it goes on to say that this makes an unbearable noise in the ears and gives evidence that can not be substantiated. 

Climate change is on the rise, making irreversible changes to the environment over the years to come. Therefore, the Secretary-General has expressed his views on what the world needs to do immediately to save the world from climate change, "he said.

UN Secretary General Guterres also emphasized that the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation could put billions of people in the world at risk of suffocation.

According to the latest report by the IPCC, scientists have pointed out that climate change is affecting more and more people around the world.

Many of the current climate changes are those that did not occur hundreds of thousands of years ago, and events such as sea level rise have not occurred for hundreds of thousands of years.

However, reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases can reduce the incidence of climate change based on its sustainability and potential. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)