MDGs for environment conservation

Sri Lanka will implement a program to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on the environment which is the only concern in the MDG agenda. The country has successfully met the other indicators and will be looking forward to attain environment related goals within the time-frame.

Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa

"We are working towards meeting the MDGs on environment. In this context, the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority will formulate a sustainable energy plan to achieve a fossil fuel-free Sri Lanka by 2030.

It will be a prerequisite to achieve environmentally sustainable development in Sri Lanka," Minister of Environment Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said.

Addressing a symposium attended by Executive Director and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, Andy Ridley at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Centre, the minister thanked Ridley for initiating this worthy cause to sustain Planet Earth.

Earth Hour symbolises the future of the world without fossil fuels. Today the world is facing a severe crisis. There is a scarcity of water, food and quality air. Sri Lanka is already facing these challenges, he said.

Ignoring the concept of sustainable development makes oil, coal and gas prices rise further. This also increases the intensity of the environmental crisis.

Therefore, the time has come for us to rethink our development drive from an environment-friendly perspective, the minister said.

"We have failed to seriously consider the environmental and social impact in the modern dominant development paradigm.

A radical change is needed and we need to have an integrated plan considering all these factors".

This will necessarily change the development parameters.

If the present generation does not do it now, human civilisation will be faced with a catastrophe, the result of which will affect not only humans but also all living beings on this beautiful planet, he said.

"We are now inundated with poisonous particles in the air resulting in coloured rain."

"The impact of this on health remains unknown. The government will have to spend many more times than the benefits of development to counter the fall out of environmental degradation," he said.

The Earth Hour 2013 will be observed on March 23 at 8.30 pm with the participation of all stakeholders.

- SJ