Climate change in Sri Lanka

Roughly 50 percent of its 22 million citizens live in low-lying coastal areas in the west, south, and south-west of the island, and are at risk of future sea level rise.

Such consequences include: Affecting agricultural productivity, causing natural disasters like floods and droughts, increasing the spread of infectious illnesses, and finally undermining the living standards.

[3] Currently benefiting from the adaptation projects of building resilience, Sri Lanka is presented with strategies to help lessen the effects of climate change in these vulnerable communities.

For example, it was suggested that Sri Lanka should increase non-agriculture jobs by 30 percent, enhance the level of education, and reduce the time to reach the market.

[5] Sri Lanka, an equatorial island nation of 65,610 square kilometres (25,330 sq mi) and 1,340 km of coastline,[6] is a biodiversity hotspot.

The Northwest region has an annual average rainfall of less than 1 metre, while the Southwest central hills above 5 m. And due to the seasonal variations and topography, Sri Lanka is divided into 3 zones: wet, moderate, and dry.

Even though rain helps in supporting the biodiversity of the dense forests covering around 30% of the country, however, the process of deforestation in wet areas contributes to erosion and dangerous landslides.

In Sri Lanka, the coastal zones are the most affected by the uncertain rates of sea-level rise and this could worsen the existing hazards such as tsunamis and cyclones.

[25] Sri Lankan authorities have realized the benefits of coastal vegetation, but more efforts to restore these shrubs and harden unprotected coastlines may be needed.

[28] Climate change threatens both surface water and groundwater sources upon which Sri Lankans depend for domestic use, agriculture, energy generation and industry.

Bird species of Sri Lanka are impacted by droughts, prolonged intense precipitation, sea-level rise, increased human interaction, and a lack of corridors which have led to a decline of habitat and range.The green-billed coucal inhabits the southwestern region of the country's wet-zone forest; its characteristics include its black-brown color, medium-large size and distinctive green beak.

[33] Severe weather also impacts bubble-nest frog populations due to flooding from increased rainfall, which may alter its breeding habitat and force relocation.

Thus, the inhabitants of Sri Lanka rely heavily on fisheries, with approximately a quarter of a million families make their living from fishing.

Sea-level rise, coral bleaching, ocean acidification and increasing carbon dioxide levels[clarification needed] also threaten coral-reef communities.

Specially in low and middle income countries where the inhabitants depend on fishing and reef-based tourism, this could lead to a wide-ranging socioeconomic fall.

[37] In developing countries, like Sri Lanka, the consequences of the invasive alien plant species (IAPS) on biodiversity (loss of 75%)[38] have not been adequately tackled.

[41][42] Four major bills and three national policies are currently focused on the spread of invasive alien fauna in Sri Lanka, yet more help is urgently needed.

Near-coastal areas like fertile strips of land that are critical for production of rice and coconuts, two major exports and nutritional staples are under threat from saltwater intrusion and extreme weather events, particularly drought.

As a result, various types of food insecurity and malnutrition are still prevalent and show high regional disparity which is likely to worsen in the face of climate change.

Post-disaster poverty, lack of job opportunities, low school attendance and high risk of drop outs is usually evident in districts hit by floods and droughts.

Sri Lanka is facing exceptionally high frequencies and severity of vector and rodent-borne diseases due to the compromised environmental conditions that are conducive to their breeding caused by urbanization, overcrowding, increased daytime and nighttime temperatures, and poor water management practices.

Additionally, both agricultural and fishing yields have been impacted by the changing climate conditions, worsening the food insecurity, leaving 29 percent of children under five underweight.

Food, waterborne illnesses, and direct weather-related health risks are also expected to increase mostly affecting 28 percent of the population working in agricultural fields.

[53] To slow the process of global climate change, education and public awareness are important to reduce the overall consumption of natural resources and limit the amount of carbon dioxide we emit.

[54] According to its mission statement, Our experience over the past 12 years indicates that agriculture, fisheries and tourism related activities have a great impact on our natural resources.

Adopting environmentally-proactive practices, such as reserves and local and national government policy, will slow the impact of climate change on Sri Lanka as it searches for a long-term solution.

[58] In April, 2016, the World Bank Broad approved a sum of $45 million to assist in protecting Sri Lanka's natural resources and habitats though the Eco-systems conservation and Management Project (ESCAMP).

The success of mangrove restoration efforts may depend heavily on engagement with local stakeholders, and on careful assessment to ensure that growing conditions will be suitable for the species chosen.

[63] To aid Sri Lanka in being more prepared to face natural disasters, the Australian government, WEP and UNICEF joined forces and signed a 3-year partnership (2018-2020).

Despite that, the Sri Lankan government has implemented a number of plans including a Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program through the Ministry of Education.