Sri Lankan Cities Promote Low Carbon Development

1 October 2009, Kandy, Sri Lanka

At the Climate Roadmap National Workshop on Sri Lanka Cities' Perspective on Post 2012 Climate Agreement & Actions at Kandy, Sri Lanka on 1st October 2009, ICLEI South Asia released the findings of "the Roadmap of South Asian Cities and Local Governments for the post 2012 global climate agreement and actions" project.

British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr. Mark Gooding, stated:

“It’s exciting to see how Sri Lankan cities are proposing to tackle issues of everyday concern for its citizens such as air quality, effective waste management, good transport links, secure water and energy supplies while making concrete steps towards a more secure and prosperous planet. These proposals are a valuable example for other cities across South Asia and worldwide, and are particularly timely in the run-up to the UN climate conference in Copenhagen this December”.

Hon. Minister of Urban Development, Government of Sri Lanka Mr. Rohana Kumara Dissanayake

Hon. Minister of Urban Development, Government of Sri Lanka Mr. Rohana Kumara Dissanayake said:

“Climate change is the most evident environmental, social and economic problem facing the world today.  We have to move from a high energy-use, wasteful economic model to one that conserves energy and minimizes waste. In other words we have to be more efficient. Given Sri Lanka’s critical role in the upcoming COP15 at Copenhagen, the urban local governments who participated in this project may be seen as a voluntary step in the right direction towards reducing global carbon emissions."

During the workshop, action plans covering energy efficient & design based street lighting, transport management, water pumping system, waste management & enhancement of urban livability and sustainability were discussed.

The project Roadmap of South Asian Cities and Local Governments for the post 2012 global climate agreement and actions is supported by the British High Commission. The workshop was organised along with Matale Municipal Council, supported by British High Commission & US Department of State.