Sri Lanka to introduce climate legislation

The Sri Lankan government is set to introduce new climate change legislation and environmental laws aimed at achieving net zero carbon emissions before the 2050 target date. President Ranil Wickremesinghe made the announcement, emphasizing the government's commitment to exceeding its climate goals.

Sri Lanka pledged to reach net zero carbon status by 2050 in its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2021.

In related news, Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mahinda Amaraweera, announced plans to establish internationally recognized sustainable standards for Ceylon Tea by the end of this year. 

“This marks a significant milestone for the Sri Lankan tea sector, demonstrating our commitment to tackling climate change and ensuring the welfare of plantation workers and smallholders,” Amaraweera stated.

In addition, the Minister outlined plans to develop and implement a regenerative agriculture model to promote low-carbon tea production.

Despite contributing only 0.08 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Sri Lanka remains highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.