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Sri Lanka

National Environmental Policy (LK0034)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Sri Lanka Action Plan 2019-2021

Action Plan Cycle: 2019

Status: Active

Institutions

Lead Institution: Ministry in charge of Environment

Support Institution(s): Agencies under Ministry of Environment, Meteorological Department, Disaster Management Center, Institute of Policy Studies Related civil society organisations

Policy Areas

Environment and Climate, Public Participation, Public Service Delivery, Regulatory Governance

IRM Review

IRM Report: Pending IRM Review

Starred: Pending IRM Review

Early Results: Pending IRM Review

Design i

Verifiable: Pending IRM Review

Relevant to OGP Values: Pending IRM Review

Potential Impact: Pending IRM Review

Implementation i

Completion: Pending IRM Review

Description

Climate change challenges to be comprehensively incorporated in the National Environmental Policy and the Act in a participatory manner by the Ministry in charge of Environment
1st March 2019 – 31st August 2021
Lead implementing agency/actor Ministry in charge of Environment
Commitment description
What is the public problem that the commitment will address? Sri Lanka has been experiencing extreme weather conditions for the past decade or so and natural disasters such as prolonged droughts, flooding and landslides have become critical issues which are increasing with time. Climate related hazards are having a significant effect across the country, and particularly on poor communities in disaster-prone districts and the rural agricultural population. Loss of life and livelihood, property damage and displacement impose a strain on government finances which have been diverted to relief and recovery efforts at the cost of mid and long term development plans. Inappropriate planning processes where climate change aspects are not taken into consideration have led to the occurrence of some of the disasters. The existing National Environment Policy and the Act do not adequately address climate change concerns.
What is the commitment? The purpose of this commitment is to specifically address climate change aspects in the country’s National Environment Policy and Act and make recommendations for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The Ministry in charge of the subject of environment will consult with all stakeholders to review and revise the current National Environmental Policy and Act to specifically address climate change aspects and make recommendations for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem? Recognizing that the existing National Environment Policy and Act do not adequately address climate change concerns, this commitment will undertake to revise these instruments to comprehensively address climate change issues. Given the dangers of climate change, this will provide high level policy prioritization for environmental protection and disaster management that will reduce impacts especially on the poor and the vulnerable. Further, those engaged in planning and decision making need to be aware of how the climate will change in short, medium and long terms in order to decide on ways to overcome difficulties and avoid disasters.
Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? This commitment promotes public participation as citizens are given a voice in government policy making and opportunities to provide inputs to government decisions that affect their lives.
Additional information Sri Lanka has fulfilled all requirements under the Montreal Protocol and action plans are prepared to address SDG 13 and other goals that directly and indirectly influence climate change. Sri Lanka also signed and ratified the Paris Agreement which strengthens global response to the threat of climate change. This commitment also strengthens and promotes the implementation of the Disaster Management Act of 2005; the recommendations and commitments in the Draft Sustainable Sri Lanka: Vision & Strategic Path and the Vision 2025.
Blue Green Development Strategy for sustainable development?
Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable Start Date: End Date:
1. Conduct wide stakeholder consultations to review the existing National Environmental Policy to identify gaps and areas of improvement to address climate change adaptation and mitigation. March 2019 June 2019
2. Formulate a new National Environmental Policy that will comprehensively address climate change aspects in a participatory manner. July 2019 June 2020

Commitments

  1. Integrity Officers to Decrease Bribery and Corruption

    LK0024, 2019, Capacity Building

  2. Asset Declaration System

    LK0025, 2019, Anti-Corruption

  3. Increase Use of RTI

    LK0026, 2019, Access to Information

  4. Citizen Participation in Health

    LK0027, 2019, E-Government

  5. Campaign Against Youth Drug Use

    LK0028, 2019, Education

  6. Open Data

    LK0029, 2019, Access to Information

  7. Agriculture Support Policy

    LK0030, 2019, Capacity Building

  8. Participation for Persons with Disabilities

    LK0031, 2019, Land Rights & Spatial Planning

  9. Disability Rights Bill

    LK0032, 2019, Legislation & Regulation

  10. Disaster Management Planning

    LK0033, 2019, Capacity Building

  11. National Environmental Policy

    LK0034, 2019, Environment and Climate

  12. CEDAW Implementation

    LK0035, 2019, Anti-Corruption

  13. Local Service Delivery

    LK0036, 2019, E-Government

  14. Feedback on Public Bus

    LK0037, 2019, E-Government

  15. Implementing UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in a Participatory Manner

    LK0038, 2019, Legislation & Regulation

  16. Improving Public Access to Preventive and Curative Strategies to Combat Chronic Kidney Disease

    LK0001, 2016, Health

  17. Transparent Policy to Provide Safe and Affordable Medicines for All

    LK0002, 2016, Capacity Building

  18. National Health Performance

    LK0003, 2016, Capacity Building

  19. Ensuring Transparency and Impartiality in Teacher Recruitment Policy and Process in Sri Lanka

    LK0004, 2016, Access to Information

  20. Enhance the Services of Government Information Center (GIC- 1919) for Inclusive, Transparent, Accountable and Efficient Governance, Using ICT As Enabler

    LK0005, 2016, Capacity Building

  21. Promote the Open Data Concept and Delivering the Benefits to Citizens Through ICT

    LK0006, 2016, Access to Information

  22. National Environmental Act (NEA) Amendments

    LK0007, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  23. Coast Conservation

    LK0008, 2016, Capacity Building

  24. Flora and Fauna Protection

    LK0009, 2016, Capacity Building

  25. Transparent and Accountable Procurement System for Local Authorities in Sri Lanka

    LK0010, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  26. Local Authority Procurement System Implementation

    LK0011, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  27. Annual Work Plan of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs to Include a Transparent and Accountable Process to Implement Selected Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Concluding Observations.

    LK0012, 2016, Gender

  28. CEDAW Implementation – Accountability

    LK0013, 2016, Gender

  29. CEDAW – Inclusion

    LK0014, 2016, Gender

  30. Strengthening Women Participation in the Political Decision Making Process at the Local Level

    LK0015, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  31. Strengthen the Anti-Corruption Framework to Increase Constructive Public Participation

    LK0016, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  32. Implement UNCAC

    LK0017, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  33. Coordination Among Anti-Corruption Agencies

    LK0018, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  34. Corruption and Money Laundering

    LK0019, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  35. Campaign Finance

    LK0020, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  36. Disseminate Asset Declaration

    LK0021, 2016, Anti-Corruption

  37. Starred commitment The Enactment and Implementation of the RTI Act

    LK0022, 2016, Access to Information

  38. Proactive Disclosure

    LK0023, 2016, Access to Information

Open Government Partnership