News
‘Climate literacy’ essential for Lankans to understand environmental changes
by Ifham Nizam
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says despite efforts in place, initiatives to cut greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors must be stepped up to meet the world’s target of limiting warming to around 1.5 degrees Celsius.The IPCC released its ‘Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change’ report, assessing the measures put in place to reduce carbon emissions globally as well as their long-term impact on emissions goals.In a statement, the panel said global gas emissions should peak before 2025 at the latest and be reduced by 43% by 2030, while methane should be reduced by about a third to limit global warming to around 1.5 degrees Celsius.However, it said that it is almost unavoidable that the limit will “temporarily exceed” the temperature threshold but it could return to below the target by the end of the century.The third part of the IPCC’s sixth assessment report was published on April 4. This report provide ample evidence of how climate change affects all living beings on earth.
It emphasizes that there is no fundamental challenge other than climate change which create many problems in all aspects of human well being such as food, water, health, shelter, education, employment etc. Not only humans but also other living beings are also under threat due to climate change.Hundreds of species of flora and fauna are already extinct due to issues accelerated by climate change and thousands of others are on the verge of extinction. There are three reviews under the sixth assessment report of IPCC, the world’s foremost body of climate researchers.The first published last August highlighted the scale of what human activity does to the climate system. The second titled ‘Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability’ published on February 28 looks at the causes, impacts and solutions to climate change. It gives the clearest indication to date of how a warmer world is affecting all living beings on Earth. This is the Working Group III contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report published this week.Supun Lahiru Prakash, an environmental activist and one of ten 2020 – United Nations Climate Change Learn champions in the world, speaking to Sunday Island says as a tropical island nation in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is highly vulnerable to climate change and we are experiencing many adverse effects of climate change.Between 2010 and 2020, fifteen times more people died from floods, droughts and storms in very vulnerable regions including parts of Africa, South Asia and Central and South America, than in other parts of the world.More than 40% of the world’s population are “highly vulnerable” to climate catastrophes. Many of the impacts of global warming are now simply “irreversible” according to the assessment.
“We are at the last minute of the hour to act against the climate change by cutting down greenhouse gas emissions significantly while investing more on adaptations as we, humans and nature are being pushed beyond abilities to adapt.”However, this report did not get enough attention internationally or nationally. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has to some extent overshadowed it in the international media.Prakash stressed that in Sri Lanka people are suffering from lack of basic needs and they know little about climate change related factors affecting mankind. Climate literacy is most wanting here. “If Lankans are aware of these things, they will demand essential policy changes and decisions to tackle the adverse impacts of climate change,” he said.Language too was a bottleneck in climate education in the non-English speaking world. Opportunities for communicating climate related information in native languages are limited as such information is mostly available in English.
Therefore, non-English speakers lack the knowledge to relate much of what the environmental change around them to climate change.
All this drives home the need for climate literacy in this country and imparting this is a task for today, not tomorrow
The Royal Navy of Oman Vessel “SADH” which arrived in Sri Lanka for replenishment purpose, departed the island on 12 Feb 26.
In accordance with naval tradition, the Sri Lanka Navy extended a customary farewell to the departing ship.
The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that aligning with the development activities carried out under the new education reforms, decisions at the rural level will not be taken from Colombo and plans should be sent based on the requirements of the rural level through the District Coordination Committees by structural committees. She further noted that all officials, from the Ministry of Education down to the school level, must commit to working efficiently and with a human-centered approach.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a discussion held with education authorities of the Hambantota District on Thursday [February 12] at the auditorium of the Hambantota District Secretariat regarding the new education reforms and prevailing issues in the education sector.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister provided an opportunity for education authorities including chief prelates of pirivenas, zonal education directors, teacher advisors, and principals to present the challenges they face and officials raised concerns including salary disparities among principals, developing school infrastructure, issues arising from the division between national and provincial schools, and uplifting pirivena education.
Further elaborating, Prime Minister stated:
“The new education reforms were initiated from 2025 through dialogue, consultations, and the collection of necessary data. As officials, you have extended your support to us during this process. We have embarked on a difficult and long journey, and we look forward to your continued cooperation.
We initiated these reforms in response to a strong social demand. Many have attempted such reforms at different times. Within our political vision, we understood clearly that if this country is to be rebuilt, an educational transformation is essential. The human resource is the most valuable resource of this country and it should be nurtured properly.
Solutions to many of the crises our country faces lie within the education system. Addressing the issues in economic challenges, social issues, drug abuse, violence, the breakdown of political culture, corruption, waste, and even the deterioration of human relationships all lie within the education.
In order to achieve the transformation we envision as a government, that an education transformation is necessary.
This education system should focus on reducing the pressures within the system, minimize school dropouts, increase employability, and instill confidence in children about their future.
There are disparities within the school system, between rural and urban schools, national and provincial schools, and difficult schools. This should not happen. All children must have equal opportunities.
Decisions regarding the establishment of schools or expansion of classes should not be political decisions. They must be decisions taken through Structural Committees. Those representatives understand their divisions, village economies, and population dynamics. Based on your decisions and assessments of needs, prepare the plans, discuss them with the District Coordination Committees, and submit them to us. We will then take steps to provide the necessary allocations and other support. We will not make decisions for the rural level while sitting in Colombo.
We are taking steps to minimize salary disparities. A Cabinet paper regarding the salary anomalies of principals has already been prepared for submission. Steps are also being taken to introduce new reforms in pirivena education through the Pirivena Committee of the Ministry of Education. We require the support of the chief prelates in this regard.
A significant number of teachers turn to human rights due to delays caused by inefficiency. Therefore, all officials from the Ministry of Education down to the schools must commit to working efficiently and in a humane manner”
The discussion was attended by Chief prelates of pirivenas, deputy ministers, Members of Parliament, zonal directors, principals, and other education sector officials.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya valid from 06:00 hrs on 13.02.2026 to 06:00 hrs on 14.02.2026
Accordingly,
Level II [AMBER] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Walapane and Nildandahinna in the Nuwara Eliya district.
Level I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pathahewheta in the Kandy district.
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