Rare honour for Sri Lanka

by Nilma Dole

Professor Mohan Munasinghe has brought to Sri Lanka the rare honour of being one of the winning factors in obtaining the Nobel Peace Prize 2007 award for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Professor Munasinghe is the Vice President of the renowned panel who was instrumental in admitting and offering a solution to the controversial Global Warming problem.

Even though the Nobel Peace Prize has traditionally been awarded to individuals for their tireless efforts to bring world peace, the IPCC in collaboration with Al Gore has tirelessly tried to bring world peace by preventing and offering solutions to the inevitable Climate Change problem that will cause future calamities.

Former American presidential candidate Al Gore who shares the Nobel Peace Prize with the IPCC stunned the world with his eye-opening movie presentation 'The Inconvenient Truth' which was well-received even though some facts are reported as wrong.

Upon bringing this highly-admired and world-prized award to Sri Lanka, Professor Munasinghe was with a renowned panel of Ministers including Minister of Public Administration, Karu Jayasuriya and Minister of Science and Technology Tissa Vitarana at the Media Minstry Auditorium for a media conference on the 15th of December 2007.

The distinguished ministers were gracious and acknowledged the eminent professor for his work with the IPCC for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. They emphasized that Professor Munasinghe was significant in promoting awareness and solutions to the Climate Change problem that has gripped the world.

It was highlighted that Sri Lanka is backing and supporting Professor Munasinghe every step of the way and aims to promote as much concern about saving Mother Earth.

Mohan Munasinghe is the President of Munasinghe Institute of National Development (MIND) and his wife Mrs.Munasinghe was also vital in shaping his career.

He has won several international awards and has been a distinguished fellow for a number of science associations and a visiting professor for universities including the United Nations University in Tokyo.

Professor Munasinghe presented his work which revolved on the fourth assesment report of the IPCC which won the Nobel Peace Prize by way of researching about the gravity of the problem of Climate Change.

He started by explaining in layman's terms, "The Earth is now covered by a blanket of heat that is generated by Carbon Dioxide including harmful nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions that are released by industrial countries which is dangerous".

The IPCC won the Nobel Peace Prize with the assistance of several researchers, scientists and various organisations to bring the highly conclusive and concrete evidence that this problem is indeed happening and if we don't do anything about it now, then it might be too late.

The importance of finding how Climate Change affects Sri Lanka is vital because it is evident that we know how much the situation affects us. Professor Munasinghe highlighted that the wet zones in Sri Lanka will be even more wetter with floods and severe monsoons.

More research has shown that the dry zones will be severely affected with drought and have a tremendous impact on the poor and the coastal areas will also witness stormy seas and different weather problems pertaining to the Climate Change problem that is steadily increasing.

His example of the delta in Bangladesh that is fertile and has quite a population living there makes it a potential victim of the Climate Change problem. More and more people will have to migrate to places where they can live because there won't be any land to tread on. Professor Munasinghe noted that the sea level increases 6cm because of the melting ice caps at the North and South Pole caused by global warming.

The adaptation and mitigation process is important because as people living on planet Earth we should be prepared for the Climate Change Problem. Professor Munasinghe explained that even though the United States of America may not be signing any declaration to reduce their CO2 emissions that is vital to prevent the heat of the Earth from building up, it will be the Third World countries that are likely to suffer.

This is true to the effect that we have to be careful with what is going on and have to adapt should any problems occur in the future. Sri Lanka's Climate Change Solution Strategy is to 'Engage Actively in Protecting the Earth', 'Seek Funds and Knowledge to Protect the Earth' and researching more about 'Carbon Trading'.

These Sustainable Development Strategies have to be inculcated into our world policies to help curb this problem. A Carbon Tax called the CDM offers developing countries to sell their carbon emissions to richer countries for funds but in the future when developing countries need it, they should be prepared for survival.

The current CO2 level is at 375 but 400 only is the maximum level that is allowed. From 1970 to 2004, the emissions have gone up by a massive 70% and the Earth can only bear a rise of temperature by 2 degrees Celsius. We must reduce our Carbon Dioxide emissions in half by 2050 otherwise it will be Doom's Day.

However, if the richer countries don't take heed and help solve this crisis then the developing countries are at risk. The only methods are to eradicate poverty, supply adequate food, offer clean water, give energy and provide a healthy environment.

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