Sri Lanka’s Inaugural ‘International Climate Change Forum’, held on 2nd & 3rd November in Colombo, concludes successfully

Climate Change has been identified as one of the greatest threats to the sustainability of the planet, and in a pioneering stance to address these challenges, Sri Lanka proudly hosted the inaugural 'International Climate Change Forum' (ICCF) on November 2nd and 3rd, 2023, in Colombo. The ICCF served as a global congregation of experts, policymakers, scientists, and practitioners, brought together to collectively tackle the critical issues linked to climate change. With a specific focus on climate change adaptation within the context of food security. This event was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Connect To Care, organized for the Presidential Secretariat, and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The first day of the ICCF concentrated on climate adaptation challenges in the country, along with potential local and global solutions. The second day was dedicated to the development of coordination, project development, and financing mechanisms to address these challenges. Furthermore, the research gaps identified during the event will be promoted through the proposed International Climate Change University. The outcomes of this conference will be taken forward at the  28^th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) scheduled for December 2023 in the UAE.

The ICCF featured seven thought-provoking sessions developed and conducted by key agencies working in climate adaptation. These sessions converged toward a unified approach. The President addressed the forum in the morning of the first day setting out his vision. This vision ties building a green economy with the economic revival.

It must be recognized that Sri Lanka has exceptional biodiversity and relatively low emissions. This is an enormous source of strength as we build a thriving green economy.

The first session was led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, titled ‘Role of the Private Sector in Climate Adaptation’. It discussed the pivotal role of the private sector in climate adaptation and the ramifications of non-adaptation on markets, scrutinizing the vulnerabilities faced by smallholder farmers, and exploring innovative solutions to these pressing issues.

Another session on ‘Partnership for Scaled Climate Smart Response’ witnessed the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as a thought partner and highlighted the urgent need for collaborative approaches to meet climate adaptation challenges, particularly within the context of Sri Lanka.

The ‘Technology and locally led adaptation’ session was a collaborative effort by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). The session was dedicated to technologies and locally led adaptation practices while discussing the successes and challenges experienced by the nation.

The session on ‘Policy and Governance Levers’ organised by the World Bank (WB) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) for adopting science-based targets, emphasized areas such as Water Quality, Biodiversity, and Natural Capital Accounting towards climate-smart agriculture. The session provided actionable solutions to enhance Sri Lanka's climate resilience, focusing on policy refinement, institutional reviews, and the development of robust provincial and national adaptation strategies.

‘Climate Smart & Sustainable and Inclusive Agriculture in Sri Lanka’, with a multi-stakeholder approach, was planned by FAO as the first workshop on Day 2, followed by ‘Partnerships and Synergies to Mainstream Climate Smart Technologies in Agriculture Value Chains’, organised by USAID. The final workshop on Day 2 was organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on ‘Climate financing opportunities including carbon markets as a means for convergence.

The multi-stakeholder approach adopted in the ICCF facilitated agencies who are working to help Sri Lanka in climate adaptation to share their experiences and arrive at a common mechanism for future work, including lessons sharing and resource mobilization, together.

Three key outcomes from the ICCF: Sri Lanka needs to adopt a data-first framework so that impacts from climate change and interventions can be monitored and understood, all those working on Climate Adaptation in Sri Lanka need to work much more closely to forge synergies, Sri Lanka needs significant financing through multiple channels to realize the vision of a green and thriving economy.