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Sri Lanka submits national climate change contributions to UN convention
View(s):By Tharushi Weerasinghe
Sri Lanka has officially submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), outlining the country’s climate goals and actions from 2026 to 2035 under the Paris Agreement.
The NDCs represent each country’s national pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Parties to the Paris Agreement are required to update their NDCs every five years, increasing their ambition in line with national priorities and capacities. Sri Lanka’s first NDC was submitted in 2016, followed by NDC 2.0 for 2021-2030. The newly submitted NDC 3.0 will guide the nation’s climate policies through 2035.
“The NDCs are the major pledge from a country party to the Paris Agreement,” said Leel Radeni, Director of the Climate Change Secretariat at the Ministry of Environment. “They identify mitigation and adaptation actions, along with targets and supporting mechanisms for a ten-year period.”
He explained that the NDCs are central to global processes such as the Paris Agreement’s global stocktake, a five-yearly assessment of countries’ collective progress in reducing emissions. “Our NDC 3.0 will be a key input to the next global stocktake in 2028,” Mr Radeni said, noting that Sri Lanka’s targets will guide its future reporting and transparency efforts.
Under the Paris Agreement’s Article 13, countries are required to report on their progress through Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs). Sri Lanka submitted its first such report in December 2023 and plans to submit the next by the end of 2026. “Transparency is the backbone of the Paris Agreement,” Mr Radeni stressed. “Our reports will show what progress we’ve made toward our NDC targets, the support we’ve received, and what further assistance we need.”
The NDC 3.0 document identifies 6 key mitigation sectors – energy, industry, transport, waste, agriculture, and forestry – and 9 adaptation sectors including water, health, biodiversity, urban planning, tourism, and coastal management. It also introduces a new focus area: loss and damage, addressing climate-induced disasters such as floods, landslides, and cyclones that continue to impact vulnerable communities despite mitigation and adaptation efforts.
“For loss and damage, we’ve identified actions in collaboration with the Disaster Management Centre, NBRO, and Meteorological Department,” he said. “This includes strengthening weather forecasting systems, improving data management, and developing a national risk management framework.”
NDC 3.0 also emphasises inclusivity and equity through a dedicated chapter on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). “We held consultations with women’s groups, youth networks, persons with disabilities, and civil society organisations to ensure no one is left behind,” Mr Radeni explained. “This time, the NDC is not just a technical document – it’s a social one too.”
The preparation process, which began in December 2024, involved collaboration with development partners including the UNDP, Asian Development Bank, UNIDO, and FAO, as well as extensive consultations with ministries and sectoral stakeholders. “Each sector proposed its own NDCs, developed through technical working groups and consultations held between March and April this year,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s new climate roadmap aligns with global principles of clarity, transparency, and understanding (ICTU) and harmonises with other international commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
“There has to be progression from NDC 2.0 to 3.0 – both qualitatively and quantitatively,” Mr Radeni said. “Our new targets are more ambitious, more inclusive, and better integrated into national development priorities.”
The NDC 3.0 outlines sector-specific mitigation targets – such as enhancing renewable energy, promoting electric mobility, adopting circular economy practices, and increasing forest cover from 29.2% to 32% by 2035. For adaptation, it highlights initiatives to strengthen water management, build climate-resilient agriculture, protect coastal ecosystems, and promote health sector preparedness.
Sri Lanka is also working toward becoming a net-zero emission country by 2050. “We are integrating climate change adaptation into national development planning,” Mr Radeni said. “To achieve these goals, we will need support from global partners in finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.”
A National Climate Fund is also planned to streamline access to climate finance and support the implementation of both conditional and unconditional NDC targets.
“Our NDC 3.0 reflects Sri Lanka’s highest possible ambition under current national circumstances,” Mr Radeni concluded. “It’s a roadmap to a more resilient, low-carbon future – one that requires strong partnerships at home and abroad.”
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