Local villagers need to be prepared over changing weather patterns
View(s):Lack of preparedness and growing uncertainty over weather patterns is a serious issue that needs to be addressed at all levels, from village to national, a Sri Lankan minister said.
“We see that weather patterns have changed, and unexpected weather related disasters have increased. My Ministry focuses on increased preparedness and improving early warning,” noted Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister for Disaster Management, speaking at the Symposium on Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change, organized by the Global Environmental Facility’s Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) of UNDP.
The 2-day symposium brought together over 150 rural people, community-based and civil society organizations working towards managing local impacts of climate change adaptation projects to share experiences, knowledge and lessons learnt, according to a UN Colombo media release.
Island nations such as Sri Lanka are becoming more vulnerable to climate change. The impacts of frequent weather related disasters and climate change could seriously set back development targets set for key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and even services such as tourism. In addressing this need, GEF/SGP, with support from the Australian Government’s Overseas Aid Programme (AusAID) has provided financial assistance to communities to implement climate change adaption projects at the local and regional level.
Mr. Amaraweera highlighted the need to create awareness and improve knowledge, especially among school children and women, to mitigate the impact of disasters.
He recognized the role played by UNDP in supporting such efforts, and also highlighted some of the key initiatives taken by the Government in mitigating the impacts of disasters.
Deputy Secretary of Treasury Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda said that recent changes in weather patterns have caused billions in losses and damages. In a key note address, he added that, “for example, the Treasury had to allocate Rs. 60 billion for flood control and flood damage in 2010 and 2011. Newly done roads and bridges were damaged due to unexpected and intense rainfall. In 2012, due to drought, we could only produce 18 per cent of electricity through hydro power.”
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