Navigating Climate Change: Urgent need for sustainable solutions in Sri Lanka

by Amarasiri de Silva

(International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was observed on October 13.)

As a child, I found great comfort in the rhythmic sound of raindrops falling on the roof of our house during the monsoon months. The steady drumming of rain lulled me to sleep, and the cool, refreshing nights brought a sense of peace. The rain was a predictable companion, arriving on schedule and nourishing the earth. Back then, I developed a deep appreciation for the monsoon rains, its rhythm, and the life it brought to the land.

However, the patterns I grew up with have completely changed. What was once a soothing and life-giving force has become a symbol of unpredictability and destruction. People no longer welcome the rain with the same sense of comfort or security. Now, we are faced with devastating floods that erode the land, destroy homes, and sweep away carefully cultivated crops. These floods no longer follow the seasonal monsoon cycle; they happen throughout the year, with little warning or consistency.

News reports are now filled with images of flooding. We hear constant stories of entire communities being inundated, homes submerged, and people displaced. The once predictable and calming rain has become a source of anxiety and fear for many, as they brace themselves for its unpredictable wrath. The rhythm of raindrops on the roof has been replaced by the harsh reality of climate change and its far-reaching impacts on our lives. We hear new concepts like atmospheric rivers which we did not hear before they are a key part of the global water cycle and can often have hazardous effects.

As an island nation, we Sri Lankans are particularly vulnerable to the devastating effects of climate change, more so than many non-island nations. Its geographical position exposes it to rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and natural disasters, all of which are being intensified by global climate change. The island’s vulnerability is further heightened by its reliance on a land-based economy, with agriculture forming the backbone of livelihoods for many communities across the country. As a result, climate change poses a profound threat to the economic stability, food security, and well-being of the Sri Lankan population.

Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, which employs a significant portion of the population and contributes considerably to the national economy, is particularly sensitive to climatic shifts. Agriculture in the country is heavily dependent on monsoonal rainfall, which has become increasingly erratic due to climate change. The once predictable seasonal patterns are being disrupted, leading to periods of intense drought followed by extreme rainfall, both of which are detrimental to crop production. Major crops such as rice, tea, and rubber are at risk of reduced yields, which would not only impact the livelihoods of farmers but also the nation’s food supply and export revenues.

The rural communities that rely on subsistence farming are especially at risk. Many of these communities are located in areas prone to flooding or drought, and they lack the resources to adapt to these rapidly changing conditions. Prolonged droughts threaten water availability for irrigation, while extreme rainfall can cause soil erosion and flooding, destroying crops. Additionally, increasing temperatures may push certain crops, such as tea, past their tolerance thresholds, further exacerbating economic hardship.

Coastal communities are also at the frontline of climate change. Rising sea levels, coupled with more frequent and intense storms, threaten to inundate low-lying areas, displacing populations and destroying infrastructure. Fishermen, who rely on coastal ecosystems for their livelihoods, are facing declining fish stocks due to warming ocean temperatures and coral reef degradation. These combined challenges further strain local economies, leading to potential migration crises and social unrest sometimes reflected as ethnic unrest as communities are forced to relocate or adapt to dwindling resources.

Given these looming threats, the Sri Lankan government must take decisive and proactive measures to mitigate the effects of climate change. It is critical that the government recognizes the gravity of the situation and develops comprehensive, long-term strategies to protect the country’s most vulnerable communities and industries. A multi-faceted approach is needed, combining climate-resilient agricultural practices, infrastructure improvements, and community education on adaptive strategies.

Investments in sustainable farming methods, such as drought-resistant crops, rainwater harvesting systems, and efficient irrigation technologies, can help safeguard agricultural production. Furthermore, improving early warning systems and disaster preparedness can help mitigate the impact of extreme weather events on both rural and coastal communities. Equally important in the fight against climate change is the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs. These ecosystems play a crucial role in acting as natural buffers against storms, coastal erosion, and rising sea levels. Mangroves, in particular, serve as a protective barrier along coastlines, absorbing the impact of waves and reducing the intensity of flooding during storms. Coral reefs also play a significant role by providing habitats for marine life and protecting shores from the full force of ocean waves.

It is disheartening, however, to witness the large-scale destruction of these vital ecosystems. Mangroves, like those in Muthurajawela, are being cleared out, often for short-term economic gain, without a clear understanding of the critical role they play in safeguarding coastal communities. The lack of awareness about the ecological importance of mangroves leads to their removal, which in turn increases the vulnerability of coastal areas to the impacts of climate change. This destruction not only exacerbates flooding and coastal erosion but also threatens biodiversity and the livelihoods of those dependent on these ecosystems.

As an island nation with a land-based economy, Sri Lanka is particularly susceptible to the compounded effects of both natural and man-made disasters. Deforestation, particularly the clearing of jungles, like Singha Raja is a major man-made contributor to the intensification of climate change. The widespread clearing of forests for agriculture, development, or other purposes reduces the land’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, accelerates soil erosion, and disrupts water cycles. This exacerbates the frequency and intensity of climate-related events, such as floods and droughts, which have devastating consequences for the country’s agricultural productivity and overall stability.

The government must act swiftly to address these challenges by implementing forward-thinking policies that enhance the resilience of the country’s agricultural sector and protect its coastal regions. By doing so, Sri Lanka can reduce the potential economic and social disruptions caused by climate change and ensure a sustainable future for its people.

As the world continues to grapple with the reality of climate change, it becomes increasingly evident that the experience of global warming is not uniform across regions. Many characteristics of climate change are directly linked to the level of global warming, but the impacts that individuals and communities face vary significantly from global averages. For instance, warming over land is higher than the global average, and in certain regions like the Arctic, temperatures are rising at more than twice the global rate. These regional disparities highlight a key issue: while climate change is a global phenomenon, its effects are felt locally and often disproportionately.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has long emphasized that climate change is already affecting every region on Earth in multiple ways. As Panmao Zhai, Co-Chair of the IPCC Working Group I, pointed out, “The changes we experience will increase with additional warming.” This statement underscores the fact that the consequences of climate change are not static; rather, they will intensify as global temperatures continue to rise. These changes are already reshaping ecosystems, economies, and societies around the globe, and their impacts are expected to become even more severe in the coming decades.

The IPCC’s latest report projects that climate changes will increase in all regions. At 1.5°C of global warming, we can expect to see a rise in the frequency and severity of heat waves, longer warm seasons, and shorter cold seasons. These changes may seem minor in isolation, but collectively, they represent a profound shift in the Earth’s climate systems. For instance, longer warm seasons and more frequent heat waves can lead to increased evaporation, drying up water sources that are critical for agriculture and human consumption. This, in turn, has far-reaching implications for food security, public health, and economic stability. At 2°C of global warming, the situation becomes even more precarious. Heat extremes will more frequently exceed the critical tolerance levels for both agriculture and human health. For farmers, this means that crops will struggle to survive in the face of extreme heat, fast spreading of weeds, fungi and pests, potentially leading to widespread food shortages. Similarly, human health will be compromised as higher temperatures contribute to heat-related illnesses, exacerbate existing health conditions, and place additional stress on healthcare systems, particularly with the growing incidence of mosquito-borne diseases. The risk to both agricultural sustainability and human well-being increases exponentially as the planet warms, highlighting the urgency of mitigating climate change.

However, the conversation about climate change cannot be limited to rising temperatures alone. Another critical issue that deserves attention is the widespread use of chemicals in agriculture. With the advent of the Green Revolution after 1964, Sri Lanka underwent a significant transformation in its ecosystem, particularly affecting aquatic systems. The push for high-yield agricultural practices during this period dramatically altered traditional farming methods and, in the process, disrupted delicate ecological balances.

As a child, I recall seeing tiny species of singing birds, such as sparrows, which were once a common sight. However, as I grew older and entered adulthood, these birds seemed to disappear from our villages. Similarly, the vibrant populations of small fish, like Thiththya, Dandi, and Bulath Hapaya, which once thrived in the streams winding through paddy fields, have all but vanished. These changes were not coincidental but were directly tied to the shifts in agricultural practices driven by the government’s focus on increasing food production, particularly rice.

To meet the growing demands of an expanding population, the government aimed to create a paddy economy that favored monocrop farming, replacing traditional subsistence farming systems. In the past, farmers cultivated a variety of crops, including vegetables, tree crops, and traditional rice varieties, providing diversity in both food supply and agricultural practices. However, the new paddy economy centered on high-yield rice varieties that required intensive cultivation methods, drastically altering traditional farming landscapes.

The introduction of these high-yield varieties necessitated the extensive use of chemical fertilizers to boost production, alongside weedicides to control weeds and pesticides to combat pests. These chemicals, while essential for sustaining the new farming model, brought with them a range of unintended and harmful consequences. One of the most alarming effects has been the pollution of shallow well water, which had served as the primary source of drinking water in many rural villages for centuries. The contamination of water sources with chemical residues has not only damaged the local ecosystems but also posed severe health risks to local populations.

The consumption of polluted water has led to a rise in health issues, particularly chronic kidney disease, in the dry zone districts of Sri Lanka. This health crisis has become a significant concern not only in Sri Lanka but also in other South Asian countries and parts of South America, where similar agricultural practices were adopted. The heavy reliance on chemical inputs in farming has proven to be a double-edged sword—while it has helped increase food production, it has also contributed to long-term environmental degradation and public health crises.

The climate change brings with it a myriad of other changes that vary from region to region. These changes include shifts in wetness and dryness, alterations in wind patterns, the melting of snow and ice, and changes to coastal and oceanic systems. Some regions will experience heavier rainfall and flooding, while others will face prolonged droughts. The loss of snow and ice in polar regions, particularly in the Arctic, will have cascading effects on global weather patterns, influencing everything from ocean currents to storm intensity.

Rising sea levels, driven by the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, threaten to inundate coastal communities, displace millions of people, and cause significant economic losses. In addition, changes to ocean systems, including warming waters and shifts in currents, will affect marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who depend on them, particularly in small island nations and developing coastal regions. These regions are often the least equipped to deal with the consequences of climate change, further exacerbating global inequalities.

While global warming is often discussed in terms of averages, the reality is that the impacts of climate change are far more complex and varied across regions. Warming over land is more intense than the global average, and the Arctic is experiencing warming at more than twice that rate. These differences illustrate that the experience of climate change is not the same for everyone. As the IPCC report highlights, the world is already witnessing the effects of climate change in every region, and these changes will only intensify as the planet continues to warm. Beyond rising temperatures, climate change is causing shifts in wetness and dryness, winds, snow, ice, coastal systems, and oceans, all of which are creating a more unstable and unpredictable future. Addressing these challenges requires urgent global cooperation, adaptation, and mitigation strategies to protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems worldwide.

Sri Lanka’s vulnerability to climate change, combined with the ecological and health impacts of human activities such as chemical-intensive agriculture, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive action. Climate change is exacerbating these challenges by intensifying extreme weather events, disrupting ecosystems, and placing additional strain on the nation’s natural resources. The shift towards monocrop farming and the excessive use of chemicals has compounded the effects of climate change, damaging ecosystems, contaminating water sources, and contributing to health crises like chronic kidney disease. As an island nation with a land-based economy, Sri Lanka must focus on both mitigating climate change and adopting sustainable agricultural practices to protect its ecosystems and communities. By doing so, the country can build resilience to climate change’s escalating effects and safeguard its future. We hope the new government will take the necessary steps to address these pressing issues.