News

Climate Action for People and Planet: The Time is Now – UN Secretary-General

Published

5 years ago

2021/04/25

In this pivotal year for humanity, now is the time for bold climate action. The science is irrefutable and globally agreed: to stop the climate crisis from becoming a permanent catastrophe, we must limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message to mark Earth Day on April 22 and the US convened Leaders’ Summit on Climate.

“To do this, we must get to net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by mid-century. Countries making up about two-thirds of the global economy have committed to do so. This is encouraging, but we urgently need every country, city, business and financial institution to join this coalition and adopt concrete plans for transitioning to net zero”, he said.

Even more urgent is for governments to match this long-term ambition with concrete actions now, as trillions of dollars are mobilized to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Revitalizing economies is our chance to re-engineer our future, the UN Secretary-General further said.

The world has a strong framework for action: the Paris Agreement, in which all countries committed to set their own national climate action plans and strengthen them every five years. Over five years later, and with damning proof that if we don’t act we will destroy our planet, it is time for decisive and effective action as the United Nations convenes all countries in Glasgow in November for COP26, he continued.

The new national plans must cut global greenhouse gas pollution by at least 45 per cent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. Many have been presented already, and set out clearer policies to adapt to the impacts of climate change and boost access to renewable energy, he noted.

But so far, those plans achieve less than a one per cent cut in emissions. This is a true red alert for people and planet.

In the months ahead, beginning with the upcoming Leaders Summit hosted by the United States, governments must dramatically step up their ambitions – particularly the biggest-emitting countries that have caused the vast bulk of the crisis, he added.

The UN Secretary-General’s message further said: “Phasing out coal from the electricity sector is the single most important step to get in line with the 1.5-degree goal. Immediate action to remove the dirtiest, most polluting fossil fuel from power sectors offers our world a fighting chance.

“Global coal use in electricity generation must fall by 80 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030. This means that developed economies must commit to phase out coal by 2030; other countries must do this by 2040. There is simply no reason for any new coal plants to be built anywhere. One third of the global coal fleet is already more costly to operate than building new renewables and storage. COP26 must signal an end to coal.

“As the world moves towards clean air and renewable energy, it is essential that we ensure a just transition. Workers in impacted industries and the informal sector must be supported as they move jobs or re-skill. We must also unleash the vast power of women and girls to drive transformation, including as equal participants in governance and decision-making.

“The countries that contributed least to climate change are suffering many of the worst impacts. Many small island nations will simply cease to exist if we don’t step up the response. The developed countries must deliver on their commitments to provide and mobilize $100 billion annually by:

doubling current levels of climate finance;

devoting half of all climate finance to adaptation;

stopping the international funding of coal; and

shifting subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

“The G7 Summit in June offers the opportunity for the world’s wealthiest countries to step up and provide the necessary financial commitments that will ensure the success of COP26.

“While governments must lead, decision-makers everywhere have a vital role to play.

I ask all multilateral and national developments banks, by COP26, to have clear policies in place to fund the COVID recovery and the transition to resilient economies in developing countries, taking into account crippling debt levels and huge pressures on national budgets.

“Many local governments and private business have committed to net zero emissions by 2050, and have engaged in significant reviews of their business models. I urge all to set ambitious targets and policies.

“I encourage young people everywhere to continue to raise their voices for action to address climate change, protect biodiversity, stop humanity’s war on nature and accelerate efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Time is running out, and there is much hard work ahead, but this no time to raise the white flag. The United Nations will keep flying our blue flag of solidarity and hope. This Earth Day and over the crucial months ahead, I urge all nations and all people to rise together to this moment”.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

PM departs Sri Lanka to participate in the 56th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

Published

10 hours ago

2026/01/19

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on this morning (19 January) to participate in the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), to be held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from 19 to 23 January 2026.

The World Economic Forum 2026 will be convened under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue” and will bring together over 3,000 global leaders, including heads of state, government leaders, chief executive officers of leading multinational corporations, policymakers, and technology innovators.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a series of high-level bilateral meetings with key international leaders, heads of global institutions, and other distinguished dignitaries.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Coal scandal: Govt. urged to release lab report

Published

23 hours ago

2026/01/19

Thilina Walpola

Pubudu Jagoda

The government is under mounting pressure to release a foreign laboratory report on the controversial coal consignment imported for the Lakvijaya Power Plant, with the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) accusing the authorities of political interference and tender manipulation.

Speaking to the media after a party meeting in Homagama yesterday, FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jagoda demanded an immediate explanation for the delay in disclosing the report from a Dutch laboratory, Cotecna, which was commissioned to test samples of the coal stocks in question after doubts were raised about an earlier local laboratory assessment. Jagoda said Cabinet media spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa had announced that the report would be submitted by 16 January, but it had yet to be made public.

“The Sri Lankan lab confirmed the coal was substandard and could damage both the environment and power plant machinery. The foreign lab has independently verified the same results, we are told. Yet, political pressure appears to be delaying the release of the report.” He warned that any attempt to issue a false report would eventually be exposed and urged the government and the laboratory to maintain transparency.

SLPP MP D.V. Chanaka told Parliament last week that while 107 metric tonnes of coal were normally required per hour to generate 300 megawatts, but as many as 120 tonnes of newly imported coal were needed to produce the same amount of power due to its lower calorific value. Tests showed the first two shipments had calorific values of 5,600–5,800 kcal/kg, below the required minimum of 5,900 kcal/kg, said.

Jagoda accused the government of tailoring procurement rules to benefit an Indian supplier, citing a drastic reduction in reserve requirements—from one million metric tonnes in 2021 to just 100,000 tonnes in 2025—and alleged previous irregularities by the company, including a 2016 Auditor General finding regarding a rice supply contract and the 2019 suspension of a key agent of the company by the International Cricket Council over match-fixing.

He further criticised systemic manipulation of the coal tender process, including delays in issuing the tender from the usual February-March window to July, and progressively shortening the submission period from six weeks to three, giving an advantage to suppliers with stock on hand.

The Ministry of Energy recently issued an amended tender for 4.5 million metric tonnes of coal for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 periods, following the cancellation of an earlier tender. Jagoda warned that procurement delays and irregularities could trigger coal shortages, higher spot-market purchases, increased electricity costs, and potential power cuts if hydropower falls short.

Jagoda called for urgent investigations into the procurement process, insisting that any mismanagement or corruption should not be passed on to the public.Denying any wrongdoing, the government has said it is waiting for the lab report.

by Saman Indrajith ✍️

News

Greenland dispute has compelled Europe to acknowledge US terrorising world with tariffs – CPSL

Published

23 hours ago

2026/01/19

Thilina Walpola

Dr Weerasinghe

The Communist Party of Sri Lanka yesterday (18) alleged that the US was terrorising countries with unfair tariffs to compel them to align with its bigot policies.

CPSL General Secretary Dr. G. Weerasinghe said so responding to The Island query regarding European countries being threatened with fresh tariffs over their opposition to proposed US take-over of autonomous Danish territory Greenland.

US President Donald Trump has declared a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland with effect from 1 February but could later rise to 25% – and would last until a deal was reached. Targeted countries have condemned the US move.

Dr. Weerasinghe pointed out that none of the above-mentioned countries found fault with the US imposing taxes on countries doing trade with Russia and Iran. Now that they, too, had been targeted with similar US tactics, the CP official said, underscoring the pivotal importance of the world taking a stand against Trump’s behaviour.

Referring to the coverage of the Greenland developments, Dr. Weerasinghe said that news agencies quoted UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as having said that the move was “completely wrong”, while French President Emmanuel Macron called it “unacceptable.

Dr. Weerasinghe said that Sri Lanka, still struggling to cope up with the post-Aragalaya economic crisis was also the target of discriminating US tariff policy. The top CPSL spokesman said that the recent US declaration of an immediate 25% increase in tariff on imports from countries doing business with Iran revealed the prejudiced nature of the US strategy. “Iran is one of our trading partners as well as the US. Threat of US tariffs on smaller countries is nothing but terrorism,” Dr. Weerasinghe said, stressing the urgent need for the issue at hand to be taken up at the UN.

Responding to another query, Dr. Weerasinghe cited the US targeting India over the latter’s trade with Russia as a case in point. He was commenting on the recent reports on India’s Reliance Industries and state-owned refiners sharply cutting crude oil imports from Russia. The CPSL official said that the EU wouldn’t have even bothered to examine the legitimacy of US tariff action if they hadn’t been targeted by the same action.

Perhaps, those who now complain of US threats over the dispute regarding Greenland’s future owed the world an explanation, Dr. Weerasinghe said. The reportage of the abduction of Venezuela’s President and the first lady underscored that the US intervened because it couldn’t bear the Maduro administration doing trade with China and other countries considered hostile to them, Dr. Weerasinghe said.

The CPSL official said that the NPP couldn’t turn a blind eye to what was happening. Just praising the US wouldn’t do Sri Lanka any good, he said, adding that the Greenland development underscored that the US under Trump was not concerned about the well-being of any other country but pursued an utterly one-sided strategy.

The US dealings with the NPP government, particularly the defence MoU should be examined taking into consideration US tariffs imposed on Sri Lanka at the onset of the second Trump administration and ongoing talks with the US, Dr. Weerasinghe.

By Shamindra Ferdinando ✍️