The launch of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of Working Group (WG) II by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC) which focused on climate impacts, vulnerability and adaptation has indicated that the South Asian region, including Sri Lanka, is in greater danger of sea-level rise and severe impact to countries agricultural sector.
International Institute for Environment and Development Climate Change GroupSenior Researcher, Global Climate Change GovernanceTeam Leader and IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability Lead Author Dr Achala C. Abeysinghe who is in Yokohama, Japan for the launch of the second instalment stated that it was imperative that Sri Lanka increasedthe country’s adaptation funding in order to combat climate change impacts.
“This report provides strongest evidence to date that countries like Sri Lanka will be particularly vulnerable to climate related impacts, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones, and wildfires. Impacts of such climate-related extremes will include alteration of ecosystems, disruption of food production and water supply, damage to infrastructure and settlements, morbidity and mortality, and consequences for mental health and human wellbeing. The current level of adaptation funding will have to be increased to be orders of magnitude a lot greater than current investment levels,” said Dr Abeysinghe.
The region specific report highlights impending crises that will be evident in the sectors agriculture and food security; human settlements, industry and infrastructure; human health, security, livelihoods and poverty; ecosystems and water security in South Asia.
The first instalment, Working Group I (WGI) that focused on the physical science basis of the climate system and climate change took place on September 23-26, 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden. The second instalment of AR5, the WGII launched its Summary for Policymakers today in Yokohama following the sessions held from March 25. WGIII is to take place on April 7-11, 2014 in Berlin, Germany and focus on addressing mitigation options. The SPM is scheduled to launch on April 13, 2014. The final instalment will be a Synthesis Report that would be a culmination of the three Working Groups. The report is said to be released between October 27-31, 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
