The Ministry of Environment being the national focal point to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conducted the 1st National Steering Committee on Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) was held in December 2021 to commence the implementation of NDCs under the Paris Agreement which was submitted to the UNFCCC on the 30th July 2021.
The NDCs have to be revised and submitted with more ambitious targets every five years. The NDC sectors comprise of Electricity (Power), Transport, Industry, Waste, Agriculture and Forestry as mitigation sectors; Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, Water, Biodiversity, Coastal & Marine, Health, Urban Planning & Human Settlement and Tourism & Recreation as adaptation sectors and Loss & Damage Sectors.
The committee was chaired by Dr Anil Jasinghe, Secretary Ministry of Environment. Mr Anura Dissanayake, (Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation); Mr Monty Ranatunga (Secretary, Ministry of Transport); Mr Somarathne Vidanapathirana (Secretary, Ministry of Wildlife & Forest Conservation); Prof Udith Jayasinghe (Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture); Mr W.M.M.B.Weerasekera (Secretary, Ministry of Local Government & Provincial Councils); Maj. Gen Palitha Fernando (State Secretary, State Ministry of Wildlife Protection, Adoption of Safety Measures including the construction of Electrical Fences and Trenches and Reforestation and Forest Resource Development); Ms Darshani Lahandapura (Chairperson, Marine Environment Protection Authority); Mr. N. Ranathunga (Chairman, National Water Supply and Drainage Board); Mr Gamini Hewage (Director General, National Physical Planning Department); Mr Dhammika Ranathunga (Director General, Ministry of Fisheries) were some of the members who participated from key NDC sectors. There were other representations from Ministries, State Ministries, Departments and Institutions who participated at this meeting.
The membership committed themselves to the implementation of the NDCs and to monitor the progress through their Planning & Monitoring Committees. Further, the Chairman encouraged the membership to obtain funding from climate funds such as the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund in order to achieve the NDC targets. The chairman also assured and emphasized that the Ministry of Environment will provide their fullest support to assist in obtaining climate finance.
