National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka: 2016 - 2025.

The National Adaptation Plan of Sri Lanka is a 10-year nationwide sectoral document aiming at achieving Sri Lanka’s objectives of sustainable development through appropriate, timely measures of adaptation so as to ensure a secure future for its citizens by minimizing the impacts of climate change on human life, ecosystems, national assets and the economy. The major goals of the Plan are to (i) raise the adaptive capacity of individuals, communities and the society to cope with impacts of climate change effectively; (ii) reduce the vulnerability to climate risks by enhancing the resilience of communities and ecosystems; and (iii) capture any opportunities that arise due to changes for maximum gain for the society and people. The NAP covers adaptation needs at two levels, namely (1) adaptation needs of key vulnerable sectors; and (2) cross-cutting national needs of adaptation. The document has identified agriculture, fisheries, water, human health, coastal and marine, ecosystems and biodiversity, infrastructure and human settlements as the most vulnerable sectors to the adverse effects of climate change.
The NAP intends to reach these goals through achieving the following objectives (i) increase the resilience of economic sectors and natural systems against the emerging and projected impacts of climate change by adopting appropriate coping strategies and system improvements; (ii) minimize the risk of damage caused by short-, medium- and long-term impacts associated with projected changes in climatic parameters through timely adaptive measures; (iii) expand the current knowledge on observed and projected changes of climate and associated physical vulnerabilities and socio-economic impacts through scientific research; (iv) build the capacity of communities, economic sectors and ecosystems to adjust to changes of climate through supportive investments on adaptive actions and increased awareness; (v) improve the existing systems of disaster risk management to minimize the vulnerabilities and increase the risk preparedness for extreme events; (vi) increase the preparedness to face the threats of climate change through establishment of advanced monitoring and surveillance systems, timely weather and climate forecasting systems and effective communication channels for information dissemination; (vii) increase the skills and knowledge on successful practices of adaptation through well-designed education, training and awareness programs.
To help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, proposed actions are (i) develop varieties and breeds tolerant to heat stress, drought and floods, and resistant to diseases and pest attacks; (ii) promote water efficient farming methods, such as micro-irrigation techniques, reuse of wastewater, on-farm rainwater harvesting; (iii) adjust crop calendars according to climate forecasts; (iv) Enhance the resilience of fish against heat and water stress; (v) develop systems for timely issuing and communicating of climate information to farmers; and (vi) develop research capacity on tolerant varieties/breeds and climate resilient farming methods.
In order to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, the NAP's envisaged actions are (i) promote sustainable agriculture enhancing the resilience of crops, animals, fish and agro-ecosystems against heat and water stress; (ii) improve salt water intrusion protection measures in coastal areas and wetland to protect agriculture lands; (iii) increase the efficiency of use and reduce losses of irrigation water; (iv) promote improved nursery and plant management practices and sustainable crop systems to increase the climate resilience of plantations and crops; (v) develop a comprehensive plan for mitigating wild/forest fire incidents; (vi) increasing the resilience of plantations and trees; and (vii) protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
The resilience of livelihoods to disasters will be increased through (i) the establishment of an efficient climate information management and communication system; (ii) improvement of disaster risk preparedness and management; (iii) strengthening the monitoring of climate change impacts of extreme events; (iv) minimizing the impacts of sea level rise on agriculture in coastal zone; (v) enhancing the resilience of crops, animals, fish and agro-ecosystems to extreme weather events; (vi) enhancing the resilience of systems for water resources, management and use to overcome the scarcities caused by climate change impacts; and (vii) assessment of climate change impacts on lagoon and coastal fisheries and on reef fish stock.
As for the Governance, the document requires undertaking a review of relevant macro and sectoral policies, legislation and procedures to identify options for mainstreaming climate change adaptation activities.