Historical development of climate change policies and the Climate Change Secretariat in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The IPCC, 2014 report found that the roles institutions played in implementing coastal adaptation policies were yet understudied. In particular, limited research was done to examine the evolution of policies and institutional actions in small island nations. Partly to fill this gap, this study traces the historical development of climate change policies in Sri Lanka and the critical roles its main climate change policy institution played in engaging with the public and experts, negotiating with international organizations, and coordinating with other stakeholder agencies. We examine how these intensive institutional efforts began in March 2008, when, in the midst of rising interests in and concerns about global climate change impacts, the Sri Lanka Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment (MMD&E) established the Climate Change Secretariat (CCS). In Sri Lanka’s political history, the establishment of the CCS signalled the dawn of the new era, leading to a series of climate change mitigation and adaptation policy actions and improved institutional capacity in the following decade. CCS’s actions in drafting the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and implementing various coordinated intergovernmental programs under the policy demonstrated how a small island nation with limited financial and technical capacities could still mobilize domestic experts and international financial support to attain some tangible results. The CCS also followed international movements for public participation by engaging with the public.