National environmental action Plan 2022-2030.

This National environmental action Plan for the period from the year 2022 until the year 2030.addresses specific issues towards different topics, as follows: Theme 1 - Air quality management; Theme 2 – Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use; Theme 3 Climate actions for sustainability; Theme 4 – Conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources; Theme 5 – Sustainable land resources management; Theme 6 – Holistic waste management; Theme 7 – Integrated water resources management; Theme 8 – Environment management in cities and human settlements; Theme 9 – Greening industries. These sections are organized to provide an overview; the current status; policy legal and institutional context; a summary of the key materials reviewed related to each thematic area; and a detailed action plan based on different strategies under each thematic area. These action plans are the most detailed and comprehensive sections of the NEAP, where actions, key performance indicators, the baselines, targets, short-, medium and long-term timeframes, relevance to SDG targets, indicative budgets and responsible agencies for implementation are provided. In addition to these nine thematic areas, three cross-cutting areas as listed: i) Resource mobilization; ii) Implementation and monitoring arrangements; and iii) Information and knowledge management for green growth are also provided as support to the thematic areas. National Environment Policy thematic areas are: 1. Pollution Control & Waste Management; 2. Land and water resources; 3. Build environmental and green development; 4. Climate change and global regional environmental challenges; 5. Biodiversity and ecosystems; 6. Coastal and marine resources; 7. Cross-cutting issues and challenges.
In 2015, Sri Lanka committed to the new development agenda of the United Nations (UN) and adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are rooted in the principles of sustainable development (which were first adopted in Rio in 1992), for the wise use of the environment. Sustainable development upholds the right of nations and people to progress economically and socially, while ensuring that the capacity of the natural word is able to support such demands, as well as protecting and preserving natural assets for future generations. The 17 sustainable development goals were adopted by a world which was already seeing irreversible consequences of environmental degradation, despite over two decades of commitments to the Rio Convention on climate, land and biodiversity. The SDGs are underpinned by its environmental goals – on climate, water, oceans and forests – that set the foundation for goals on social and economic progress. The National environmental action Plan 2022-2030 (or NEAP) revision was guided by the following overarching principles; 1. In the next decade, Sri Lanka as a middle-income, developing country will prioritize sustainable economic and human development. 2. The concept of wise use of natural resources will underpin the country’s economic and social policies and development investments. 3. Sustainable consumption and production will be promoted through incentives/dis-incentives at different levels – public, private and individual. 4. Although not a high GHG emitter, Sri Lanka will commit to transition to a low-carbon, green economic model with international technical and financial assistance.