Climate change no longer distant threat, officials say

Colombo, May 28 (Daily Mirror) - Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a present and growing reality affecting countries across the world, including Sri Lanka. Its impacts are already being felt through extreme weather events, changing rainfall patterns, increasing pressure on livelihoods, rising threats to food security, damage to infrastructure, and wider risks to sustainable national development, officials said.

Against this backdrop, the official launch of the 8th Steering Committee Meeting of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub was held in Colombo on 28 May 2026, bringing together representatives of Commonwealth member states, climate finance experts, development partners, and international stakeholders.

Sri Lanka hosted the high-level Commonwealth gathering at a time when climate vulnerability is increasingly shaping development priorities across small and developing nations.

Speaking at the event, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Arun Hemachandra said countries like Sri Lanka are already experiencing the tangible effects of climate change across multiple sectors, from agriculture and livelihoods to infrastructure and national planning.

He said that while many nations have strengthened climate policies and adaptation strategies, a significant gap remains between climate ambition and implementation, particularly in accessing adequate and timely climate finance.

The Minister highlighted that climate finance mechanisms must be simplified and made more accessible, warning that overly complex systems risk excluding the very countries most in need of support.

He further stressed the importance of strengthening international cooperation, including Commonwealth solidarity and South-South collaboration, to ensure climate commitments are translated into practical action and resilient development outcomes.

Reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to global climate action, he also acknowledged the role of partner institutions, including the Ministry of Environment and the Commonwealth Secretariat, in supporting climate resilience and improving access to climate finance.