Climate Change

&
Sustainable
Development

Prof. W.L Sumathipala

Senior Technical Advisor
Ministry of Mahaweli Development
and Environment
&
Factors affecting Climate to
change

2
Environmental Issues
 Climate
Mean and variability of temperature,
precipitation and wind over a period
of time, ranging from months to
millions of years.
 Causes of Climate Change
Natural
Solar Cycle, Solar output
Earths Orbit, Tilt of the axis
Volcanic Eruptions

Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases

CO2, CH4, N2O, O3, CFCs, HFCs, PFCs, SF6
Burning Fossil fuels, Changes in Land use,
raising live stocks, urbanization
Concentration of CO2 increased from 280 ppm
(in pre industrial times-1750s) to 398 ppm at
present
 Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC )
IPCC is a scientific
intergovernmental body tasked to
evaluate the risk of climate change
caused by human activity.

Thepanel was established in 1988 by

the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) and the United
Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP). 6
 What is Climate Change
(CC) ?
UNFCCC definition
Change of climate which is attributed
directly or indirectly to human activity
that alters the composition of the global
atmosphere & which is in addition to
natural climate variability observed over
comparable time periods
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 Humans are Increasing Greenhouse Warming by
Increasing Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases

Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are making

the atmosphere more absorptive of long-wave radiation.
We are closing the atmospheric window that allows long-wave
radiation to escape
This is causing additional greenhouse warming above the
natural amount

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The Annex I countries' share of CO2
emissions in 1990.
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 Per capita emission of CO2
Country Per capita emission of CO2 (tonnes)
1990 2004
USA 19.3 20.6
China 2.1 3.8
Russia 13.4 10.6
India 0.8 1.2
Japan 8.7 9.9
Bangladesh 0.04 0.05
Pakistan 0.16 0.18
Sri Lanka 0.06 0.11
Air Pollution:
Human activity is the main
cause of the changes seen
in climate.
1. Deforestation
- produces 18 per cent of
global CO2

2. Burning of Fossil fuels

- emitted 27 billions of CO2

3. Population Growth
- Worlds population
growth increases demand for
food, livestock and energy
Greenhouse Gases
 The three major 'green
house gases' (which
trap the Sun's heat in
our atmosphere and
cause global warming)
have risen steadily
over the past three
decades
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1.4 to 5.8 deg C
 Melting of Glaciers
Warming temperature has resulted in melting of
ice sheets.

The loss of glaciers/snow directly causes

landslides, flash floods and glacial lake overflow
and also annual variation in water flows and
rivers.

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 Sea level rise
Thinning sea ice and melting of
glaciers add mass to the ocean.
Warmer water causes thermal
expansion of sea water.
The current rate of sea level rise is
about 4mm ( 0.16 in) per year.
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What is needed by the science to keep the
temperature increase below 2C
World must reduced emission by
50% by 2050 with a peak
around 2020
Annex 1 Countries 30%
emission cuts by 2020 with
peak between 2012 and 2015
and at least 80% cuts by 2050
Developing Countries cuts of
20% against 1990 levels by
2050
 Being a developing country and also an
island nation, Sri Lanka is very much
vulnerable to climate change impacts.

1. Temperature rise
2. Sea level rise
3. Droughts
4. High intensity Rainfall
5. Increased thunder activity
6.Threats to food supply
7.Threats to fresh water supply
8. Loss of Biodiversity
9. Threats to human health
Agriculture, Water Resources & Human Health sectors
are the most vulnerable sectors to CC in SL
 Physical Impacts
Effects on weather
Extreme weather events
Prolong drought

Severe and frequent cyclones

High intensity rainfalls

Floods and storms

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 Impacts of Climate Change
Climate change has directly affected the lives of people in
developing countries.

Developing countries bear over nine-tenths of the climate

change burden - 98% of the seriously affected people and
99 percent of all deaths from weather-related disasters
along with over 90 percent of the total economic losses.
(eg. Super Typhoon Haiyan)

The 50 Least Developed Countries contribute less than 1

percent of global carbon emissions.

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 Major Climate Change impacts in Sri Lanka
Sea Level Rise
Sri Lanka
Has a long coastline of 1660 km
Coastal zone contains 24% of land
32% population
80% tourism
commercial ports and fishery harbors
principal road and rail infrastructure
richest areas of bio-diversity - coral reef,
lagoons, mangroves
The Highly populated & urbanized
Coastal Zone of SL Western,
Southern & North Western Province
will have direct impact with CC
scenarios caused by sea level rise &
increased precipitation
Sri Lanka
is being
in serious
water
stress Dry zone is
getting
more drier

Wet zone is
getting more
wetter
 UNFCCC - United Nation Framework
Convention on Climate Change,
1992, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Sri
Lanka has ratified the UNFCCC
on 23rd November 1993
Objective

Stabilization of GHG gas

concentration in the atmosphere at
a level that would prevent
dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate
system.
 Kyoto Protocol (1997, Kyoto, Japan)
Sri Lanka has ratified the Kyoto Protocol
in 3rd September 2002.

Major objective
Industrialized countries should
reduce their combined GHG
emission by at least 5% compared
to their emission levels in 1990 ,
during the period 2008-2012.
 Options Available

Mitigation and/or Adaptation

Prevention is better than cure

 MITIGATION

Mitigation as the technological change

and substitution that reduce resource
inputs and emissions per unit of output.
Although several social, economic and
technological policies would produce an
emission reduction, with respect to
climate change, mitigation means
implementing policies to reduce GHG
emissions and enhance sinks.
IPCC (2007)
 CDM
The CDM is defined in the Kyoto Protocol
(Article 12) as a mechanism for North-
South cooperation.
SL is a low GHG gas emitting country with
no commitment to reduce the GHG
emissions under the Kyoto protocol
But
Under this mechanism the developed
counties can invest in developing
counties on projects that reduce GHG
emissions while promoting SD in
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 Identified sectors for CDM Projects in
Sri Lanka

Hydro
Wind
solar
Organic Waste
Forestry
Bio Mass
Other (Agi, Plantation)

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 Developed countries should have at
least 80% emission cuts by 2050
and developing countries should
have 20 % emission cuts.
As a developing country Sri Lanka..

Willing to undertake the NAMA with

adequate financial support.
Reducing deforestation and forest
degradation and conserving and
sustainable managing forest and
enhancement of forest as a carbon
sinks is a priority.
 Sustainable Development?

Development that meets the needs of

today without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet
their own needs
No survival without sustainability

Sustainable Development include 3 independent

Components

Economic issues

Social issues

Environmental issues
Standard of living is determined

by the quality of the

environment we live in and not

by our consumption.
Consumption
Our standard of living is not just driven by
economic success, but is also determined
by the quality of the environment we live in

 Triple Bottom Line

Environmental

Economical

Social
What do we need on this Planet

Quality of Life?
Are we getting it through current
Economic Development Models?

Are there any Negative Issues?

 What is Quality of Life
Is it having more money
More material Riches (cars,
houses)
Having more power,
More friends/enemies???

Living on a restricted diet plan

Going to medical examinations
regularly
Living in a degrading environment
 Does Quality of Life mean
Breathing fresh Air/Drinking fresh
water
Having a good education
Having good health

Having comfort and convenience

Having a circle of genuine friends

Living in a caring neighborhood

Having a peaceful sleep

 Resource Consumption
The Ecological Foot-print, ecological
overshoot calculations clearly indicate
that present population is consuming
more than what earth can provide.
Leading to resource depletion
Leading to degraded environment
Leading to huge anomalies in quality of life
among different societies
Threatening the survival of our future
generations
 World is on a path to
Destruction
Through
Human Activity
Causing
Rapid Resource Depletion
&
Heavy Environmental Pollution
Which
Has exceeded Earths Threshold
Capacity
 Solutions for Future Survival
To meet the Total Resource
Consumption by the growing
population in 2050.

Find more habitable earths

Reduce Resource Consumption by a
factor of X (X= 4 to 10?)
Find Four Planets to provide
resources to meet human
consumption!!!
Based on current production & consumption patterns
Two planets needed by 2050 to meet our appetite for natural
resources

1900 2012 2050 2100

 Is there a way Out
Can we reverse these disasters
Can we improve the quality of life for
all
Can we make the world a better place
to live
Can we ensure the next generation
also a better life
What is Sustainable
Development?
 The major Aspects in
Sustainable Development

CONSUMPTION

PRODUCTION
Can we achieve Sustainable Consumption
and Production
Resource decoupling is achieved
through
Reduction in Resource intensity

Recovery of Resources

Redesign of Products

Reduction of Consumption
Different Approaches /Strategies
towards
Sustainable Development
Waste Minimization
Pollution Prevention
Cleaner Production
Eco Efficiency
Millennium Development Goals
Resource Sustainability (Closing the
Loop)
 Sustainable Production
Sustainable Production is

Resource Efficient
and
Cleaner Production
Production / Service Process
Air Emissions

Energy
Finished Goods and Services

Raw Materials

Waste Water

Water

Solid Waste
 History of Responses to Pollution
Sustainable
2000 Development

Treatment Costs Very

Sustainable
High
Consumption &
1990 Production
High Cost of Raw
Material
Scarcity of RM
Cleaner
1980 Production
Strict Environmental
Laws / Regulations Source Reduc.

1970 Recycling
Ignore the Problem
Dilution is the Solution
to Pollution
1960
(Treatment)
Industrial Revolution

Dump
Man at peace with Dispose
Environment Disperse
 Pollution & Resource Depletion is due to
WASTE

WHAT IS WASTE ???

It is a Valuable Resource
at the
wrong place,
in the wrong form
& wrong media
 What is Environmental Pollution ?

UP in Smoke

It is throwing
away a part of
you your
resources

DOWN the Drain IN the garbage

 Sustainable Consumption

Sustainable Consumption is

INTELLIGENT
CONSUMPTION
Shedding away the emotional Consumption
patterns
Increasing Resource Consumption with Changes in Society
 Extraction &
Processing of Raw
Material

End of Life Disposal Manufacturing

Stages of a
Typical
Life Cycle

Use Distribution
 Extraction and
Processing
of
Raw Material

Recycling / Disposal
at Manufacturing
End of Life
Stages of
a
Typical
Use, Reuse & Life Cycle
Maintenance
of Packaging
Product

Marketing
and
Transport
 Extraction and
Processing
of
Raw Material

Recycling / Disposal
at Manufacturing
End of Life
Stages of
a
Typical
Use, Reuse & Life Cycle
Maintenance
of Packaging
Product

Marketing
and
Transport
 Natural Resources of Sri
Lanka
Trends and Conditions
NSF Publication
Mineral, Water, Air,
Marine resources,
Biodiversity,
Forestry, Wildlife,
Environmental planning
Resource or problem..
 Our economy is brown..!
We are polluting our surroundings
AIR - Unlimited pollution of air is
allowed by law
LAND unlimited Solid waste is
dumped openly
WATER unlimited discharge of

waste water to rivers

 We are penalizing the poor..!
Pollution is a cost, but it is a class cost
-Karl Marx
Locations of garbage dumps

Always where the poor lives

Locationsof industrial zones - damages

productive rural landscapes

Our lethargic responses to CKDue would be

different if it were in Colombo !
 Pollution is a business !
Industries
Draw water freely from ground
water
Discharge waste water to
surface water bodies and
Sell bottled water for the
affected communities
Must donate water bottles under CSR
 Our agriculture is suicidal!
Deteriorating its own survival
requirements
Natural capital depletion

Reducing the genetic diversity

monocultures
Killing Pollinating agents

Killing soils - inorganic fertilizers kill all

organisms in soil
Social capital depletions

Lost networks - There is no agriculture

now. It is agribusiness..!
 Traditional methods of pest control
are adequate
Grains have high protein content
saves cost of animal husbandry and
associated environmental costs and
sins of killing animals
Avoids our craving towards sugary
and oily foods. additional health
benefits, saves land degraded by
sugarcane
Buddhism presents a radical challenge
form a in stream economics
Denies the existence of the self
Anatta - absence of a supposedly
permanent and unchanging self
Suggests not to multiply but to
simplify our desires.
Minimum material comfort

Wanting less could bring substantial

benefits for the person, for the
community and for nature.
 Eco Design
IncorporatingEnvironmental
considerations at the early stages
(Algae based plastics)
Zero-detergent Washing is realized by
the power of electrolytic water Utilizing
ultrasonic waves and the power of
electrolytic water which is achieved by
electrolyzing the water, The power of
electrolytic waters activated oxygen and
electrolyzed hypochlorous acid, which is
made through electrolyzing the water by
siting electrodes on the side of the
washing drum, dissolves organic stains
(sweat) on towels, underwear, pajamas,
T-shirts, etc. This power is enhanced by
synergy with ultrasonic waves to create
Zero-detergent Washing.

Ultra Sonic Cloth

Washer
 Decopier Technologies
Many people have noticed that most of the copy
paper in recycling bins is in good condition apart
from the print or copy on it. If one could only
'erase' the toner of the page, it could be reused
as (nearly) new.
At least two companies have seriously explored
this option. In 1993, the Ricoh company issued a
press release announcing the "Paper Recycling
System", a technology for removing toner from
copy paper. However, within a few years they
decided not to turn the technology into a product.
In 1997, Decopier Technologies, Inc. announced
that they had developed a technology called
"decopying which removes the toner from laser
printers and copiers.
 Bio Gas Filling
Station

Bio Gas Operated Buses

Environment is not part of us,

we are part of the environment

Ant Hill Inspired Building design
Garbage
Your
Waste Material
should be
someone elses
Raw Material
Recycled Resource
 Green Living
Aspects to be considered :

1. Green buildings - Provides healthier lviing space

2. Waste Resources 7R
3. Composting and use of carbonic manure
4. Energy "Switching off policy"
5. Water "Closing tap policy", low flow
shower heads
6. Community involvement
7. Clean, Lean & Green
8. Green purchasing
9. Eliminate non bio degradables
10.Minimise paper usage
11.Replace disposables with reusables
12.Phaseout unsustainable cleaning
products
13.Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions
14.Eliminate CFC technologies

15.Rainwater harvesting

16.Facilitate seepage and percolation of

rain water
17.Avoid heat island effects when
roofing buildings
18.Energy
efficiency, conservation,
management and renewables

19.Biodiversity
and ecosystem conservation
and management

20.Landscaping soft and hard

21.Lowemitting materials in buildings e.g :

adhesives, floor and wall coverings

22.Switch to Public transport

Hybrid vehicles, Electric vehicles
Bicycles
Walking
23.Eco techniques and eco design
24.Reduce food miles
25.Localizing
26.Green the supply chain and LCA
27.Daylight optimization
28.Natural ventilation
29.Task lighting
 FACTS
Development of human society (Accelerated!)
(Increasing ) Demand for Resources - Food
Consumption/Capita/Yea

More
USA development
More meat !
Meat

Brazil
r

UK
China

India Why not this ?

GNI / Capita / Year

 FACTS
Development of human society (Accelerated!)
(Increasing ) Demand for Resources - Food
 FACTS
Development of human society (Accelerated!)
(Increasing ) Demand for Resources - Food
 FACTS
Industrial Competitiveness
Competitive Industrial Performance Index vs Energy
Intensity
Competitive Industrial
Performance Index

Energy Intensity

Sri Lanka
 SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Solutions to Energy & Environment Crises
A. Developing Renewable Energy
B. Energy Efficiency Improvements,
Conservation and Management
Rational Use of
C. Practicing Energy Modesty Energy

A
Three Facets of
Sustainable Energy
The
Solution

B C
Fossil Economy Green Economy
 LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Pathway for Local Economic Development
Shift from Linear Economy to Circular Economy

Linear Economy Circular Economy

Technical and Biological Materials mixed up Technical Materials Biological Materials

Energy from Finite Sources Energy from Renewable Sources
Basic Principles of Circular Economy
Design out waste
Build resilience through diversity
Rely on energy from renewable sources
Think in systems
Waste is food.
 This is not the
END

Let this be a new

BEGINNING
Thank You