Floods and climate change

Climate change is real and Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its impact. It is rather ironic that Sri Lanka is feeling the brunt of torrential rainfall on the same day teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg addressed the United Nations in a blistering speech that blamed world leaders for their inertia and warned that the next generation would hold them responsible for failing to act on the climate crisis. 

Sri Lanka has also had plenty of warning. Severe weather incidents are increasing in frequency and impact, leaving behind more damage in their wake. Over the last few years there have been an endless cycle of droughts and floods, sometimes at the same time. Sri Lanka is currently experiencing this where the southern part of the country is affected by the floods while in the northern regions farmers are struggling as their crops fail. There has also been global research that has warned the Government multiple times of Sri Lanka’s exposure to climate change impact.  

The 2019 Long-Term Climate Risk Index, published by Germanwatch, identifies Sri Lanka as the second-most vulnerable nation to climate change, coming just behind Puerto Rico. The report drew from weather disasters in May 2017 when heavy landslides and floods occurred in Sri Lanka after strong monsoon rains in the south western region of the country. 

More than 200 people died after the worst rains since 2003. The monsoons displaced more than 600,000 people from their homes and 12 districts were affected. The inland’s southwest district of Ratnapura was most affected, where over 20,000 people faced flash floods. 

The World Bank in a similar report warned that Sri Lanka’s living standards could decline as a result of falling crop yields, lower labour productivity or related health impacts caused by climate change. North and north western areas are already vulnerable as they are less developed, suffer from poor connectivity and are water stressed. Overall, Sri Lanka stands to be more affected as one-third of the population is employed in agriculture, which is the most vulnerable sector to climate change and has a direct impact on thousands of people. 

Despite significant funds and many plans being directed at the issue, Sri Lanka is still struggling to effectively respond to climate change with a well-planned and multi-pronged approach. Despite all the dire warnings, the Cabinet earlier this year approved two more coal power plants and scant attention is paid to deforestation, building climate resilient infrastructure and embracing climate change adaptation practices as universal policy. The risks of climate change are also barely presented as a political and economic imperative. Sri Lanka’s average annual temperatures could rise by 1.0°C to 1.5°C by 2050 even if carbon emission reduction measures are taken as recommended by the Paris Agreement of 2015. If no measures are taken, average temperatures in Sri Lanka could increase by up to 2.0°C. Weather changes will result in lower per capita consumption levels that could further increase poverty and inequality across the country and much of South Asia. 

Thunberg in her speech before world leaders faulted them for peddling “fairy tales of eternal growth” and Sri Lanka’s leaders are guilty of this same practice. There cannot be unlimited economic growth with limited resources. The aim should be to create the possibility to have equitable growth with limited resources so that together with technology there will be an opportunity for the next generation to experience a decent standard of life. That, rather than meaningless and short-lived numbers, should be the end goal.