New York Storm: A Reminder of

Environmental Calamities

by Laksiri Fernando
( January 28, 2015, Sydney, Sri Lanka Guardian) I have posted the following on my
Facebook yesterday, a recent venture on my part, about Juno the winter storm in the
US. It is still pounding.
A severe Winter Storm is about to occur or in the offing in the US affecting New York,
New Jersey and surrounding areas. Over thousand flights have been cancelled.
Emergency has been declared. People have been asked to take their vehicles out of the

streets and stay completely indoors. Metro service is also cancelled.

While we can extend sympathy and support with those who would be affected badly,
especially the old and the poor, what this reminds us again is the severe effects of
climate change. As this is still the beginning of the New Year, all the world leaders and
the people equally should commit themselves to preserve the environment, take
measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote more and more solar and
wind energy. Can we think what we can do individually to preserve the environment?
What I am focusing here in this piece is not what we can do individually, but what our
good government in Sri Lanka could do to address the issues of climate change,
constructively. Our new government promised for good governance when they were
in the opposition, and therefore, at least for the time being, I would address it as our
good government. This piece is not entirely a researched one, but a spontaneous
reaction to what we hear from our Uncle Sam in New York. Therefore, others can add
more flesh, I would suppose, those who are more knowledgeable about the subject.
Climate Change
One pleasing thing about Sri Lanka, as far as I am aware, is that there are no climate
skeptics. All appear to agree, at least superficially, that there is a major manmade
disaster in our midst, the climate change. Some of the indicators are that the overall
global temperatures have risen (and still rising), glaciers are melting and the sea levels
are climbing. If not Sri Lanka, our vulnerable neighbor, Maldives, will be devastated
because of this calamity.
Sri Lanka also will not be spared, and because of the rising sea levels, the coast lines
will shrink and the future geographical size of the country will be much less than the
present. I can recollect from my childhood how quickly the broad beaches that we used
to cherish in Moratuwa disappeared. The proposed Port City in Colombo also might
contribute to the adverse effects; if necessary precautions are not taken. I am not sure
whether a proper environmental impact assessment has been done. If one enclave is
raised, the surrounding areas possibly can get affected. When the Singapore land
reclamation was done to expand the city, it was done evenly for a large coastline,
preventing adverse effects. This is not the case in the Port City project as far as I am
aware. The most bizarre thing I have seen so far is an opinion piece in The Island
newspaper yesterday saying Anybody against this project is not a patriot!
Rising sea levels is not the only adverse effect of climate change. There are erratic
weather patterns. Perhaps weather cycles have changed dramatically for us to change
our weather calendars. That may be ok if there are no extreme fluctuations. If general
observations are of any indication, when the dry season comes it is extremely dry,
humid and hot. When the rainy seasons occur, they go to the other extremes of

continuous pouring and then for devastating floods. This is like El Nino and La Nina
effect. It is as if, the environment is angry with us.
Deforestation
There can be many reasons for flooding including deforestation. This goes back to the
period of our colonial past. It was perhaps not the tea plantations per se that
devastated our hill forests but doing so indiscriminately by cutting down almost all the
important forest covers in those areas. It could have been done selectively. Dr. S. A.
Wickremasinghe, one of the foremost left leaders, was one who raised the issue in the
1930s initially. Rohana Wijeweera did the same much later in the 1970s, rather
distortedly.
According to reports, the forest coverage of Sinharaja is now reduced from 30,000
hectares to 12,000 hectares, largely due to illegal encroachments.
Similarly when modern development took place with roadways and building
construction, even for dwelling, most of the environmental conditions or effects were
not considered. This was the case both before and after independence, and much
worse in recent times.
It was not long time ago that a tea plantation area of Haldamulla became devastated
due to land and mud slides that no one could control. Nearly hundred people lost their
lives. When children came home after school, their mothers could not be found. When
husbands came home after work, their wives or children were buried under soil.
There was no point in blaming the villagers of Haldamulla that they didnt listen to the
advice to move from the area, as they didnt have anywhere to go. That was an
outrageous claim by the administrators. Most of the victims of environmental
calamities are usually the poor. That could be one reason why the powers that be dont
care much about the climate change or environmental disasters. Even at the brink of
the presidential elections, heavy rain, landslides and flooding displaced thousands of
people. It is not clear how did they manage to cast their votes.
Tsunami experience
It was 10 years ago that the Asian Tsunami struck Sri Lanka. Over 30,000 people
belonging to all ethnic communities lost their lives and nearly a half a million people
became displaced. This was in the midst of an equally devastating ethnic conflict. What
it proved was that the climate change or natural disasters do not discriminate people
on ethnic lines. Perhaps the people learnt the lesson soon, or for the time being, by

cooperating with each other beyond ethnic lines in facing the difficult times that they
were undergoing equally.
It was not clear, however, whether the politicians, the administrators or the powers
that be, learned the lesson clearly. There were credible allegations that even the former
President, and that time Prime Minister, squandered the funds that came to assist the
Tsunami victims. The controversy is still not cleared. The challenge of the climate
change is something that should promote unity among peoples even beyond borders.
Mere national efforts might not suffice.
There are many other adverse effects of the ways that we use energy and chemicals.
The kidney diseases in Nuwarakalaviya are still a mystery. All these are related.
Rathupaswela is also a reminder of the pollution of the ground water as a result of
unregulated industries. Continuous air pollution in cities and suburbs causes many
diseases and some are not yet fully known. All these may point out to the mad ways
that we (the humans) exploit the nature to satisfy our short term needs.
Future Challenge
Climatic challenges are not something that the world could completely eliminate. To
think otherwise is too idealistic. There are certain natural events or cycles that could
always inflict harm to the humans. We need to accept them as natural. However, what
should be avoided are manmade disasters or the major adverse effects. Those are
abundant today. We not only have to work towards the future, but also need to correct
the past as much as possible.
It is generally or scientifically accepted that greenhouse gas emission is the single most
cause for the climate change. Sri Lankas adverse contribution to CO2 emissions might
be low as 0.04 percent as a portion of the overall global emissions. Still it is a high rate
for a small country although with a high population. As far as I know, Sri Lanka did
have a target of moving for renewable energy up to 10 percent this year. I am not sure
whether we have achieved that. It is true that the mitigation measures have to
encompass a large number of sectors: power, transport, industry, commerce,
household, land use, forestry and even waste management. This is the case in all other
countries as well.
Within the mad rush for superficial development, there were several ventures that
perhaps went against this target during the last regime. It is commendable that a
Minister who cares for environment, Patali Champika Ranawaka, is again appointed
for Power and Energy. However, there are other sectors that are involved, and
therefore, the need for coordination is also important.

The commitment of the government for environmental protection is verbally visible

from what the President says in his speeches. It was also included in his Manifesto.
However it is clear that the new government might not be able to do anything
significant during the 100 Days. What might be possible is to plan out the future
directions and targets if we were to consider the mitigation of climate change a
priority. This is a task that can be assigned to the concerned experts/scientists and
relevant officials.
Posted by Thavam