Climate change poses severe threats to public health and food security: Deputy Minister

Sri Lanka, as a Small Island Developing State, continues to face significant challenges arising from climate change, including threats to public health and food security, Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody said at the 9th Session of the UNESCAP Committee on Environment and Development in Bangkok.    Addressing the ministerial-level forum, Jayakody highlighted the severe floods and torrential rainfall that affected the South Asian region in 2025, emphasizing the increasing vulnerability of countries such as Sri Lanka to climate-related disasters.   

He also drew attention to emerging environmental threats, including the salinization of groundwater aquifers caused by rising sea levels and storm surges, warning that these interconnected crises pose serious risks to communities and livelihoods.   

The Deputy Minister said that addressing these challenges requires moving beyond isolated policy approaches and adopting integrated strategies that combine climate action, nature-based solutions and sustainable urban development.   

He further underscored the importance of implementing a rights-based approach to water governance and strengthening Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to effectively tackle the impacts of climate change.