+ - Making a Difference – SSSccciiieeennntttiiifffiiiccc CCCaaapppaaaccciiitttyyy BBBuuuiiillldddiiinnnggg &&& EEEnnnhhaaannnccceeemmmeeennnttt fffooorrr SSSuuussstttaaaiiinnnaaabbbllleee DDDeeevvveeelllooopppmmmeennnttt iiinnn DDDeeevvveeelllooopppiiinnnggg CCCooouuunnntttrrriiieeesss ++ NNaattiioonnaall CClliimmaattee CChhaannggee PPuubblliicc AAwwaarreenneessss aanndd OOuuttrreaacchh iinn SSrrii LLaannkkaa Final Report for APN CAPaBLE Project: 2004-CB09NSY-Dharmaratne Project Leader: Mr. G.H.P. Dharmaratne Main Collaborator: Dr. B.R.S.B. Basnayake Department of Meteorology CCCeeennntttrrreee fffooorrr CCCllliiimmmaaattteee CCChhhaaannngggeee SSStttuuudddiiieeesss Centre for Climate Change Studies, Department of Meteorology, 383, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. T.P: +94-11-2676259, Fax: +94 – 11-2676259 Email: [email protected] Web: www.meteo.slt.lk, www.meteo.gov.lk National Climate Change Public Awareness and Outreach in Sri Lanka 2004-CB09NSY-Dharmaratna Final Report submitted to APN ©Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research www.apn-gcr.org Overview of project work and outcomes -2 - Non-technical summary This project was primarily focused on the dissemination of information contained in the reports of IPCC Working Group II and III and recent findings related to climate change in Sri Lanka. As the issue of climate change is somewhat newborn concept to public in Sri Lanka, it is a pre-requisite to raise the awareness on the overview of the climate change issue before launching any targeted program to reduce or minimize the vulnerability of different sectors of the economy to the climate change. This was accomplished by conducting 25 seminars at many administrative districts of Sri Lanka within a period of 18 months. The composition of the participants in these seminars represented different stakeholders including school teachers and students. A seven hour long seminar was consisted of six presentations at each occasion, out of which one was highly specific to the respective geographical region. Other five presentations included Science of climate change, Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation to climate change in different sectors (Agriculture, Water resources, and Health) and Extreme climatic events. A panel discussion was held at the end of each seminar and there was a very high response from the participants on various emerging issues. Several Leaflets on climate change issue, which were prepared under the project were distributed among the participants of each seminar. During the last few seminars, a documentary film, which was produced under the project, was also screened. Objectives The present project aimed to: To raise public awareness on the issue of climate change, in general; To educate the public about possible adaptation measures to climate change in different sectors; To educate the public, especially, policy makers, private sectors, NGOs and academic experts on the mitigation options. Amount received and number years supported The Grant awarded to this project was: US$ 21,000 for a period of 20 months (March 31, 2005 to November 30, 2006). Work undertaken Twenty five (25) public awareness seminars were conducted. The total number of participants was 3448 with an average of 138 at each seminar representing policy makers, district level administrative, technical officers, private sector representatives, NGOs, school children, teachers and academic experts. Six(6) leaflets on climate change related issues were prepared. One thousand five hundred copies from each were printed and distributed among participants. A documentary -3 - film, running for about 30 minutes, named “Kalaguna Aguna” (The adverse effects of Climate Change) was also produced and screened at last several seminars Results The major outcome of this project was the creation of awareness on climate change among stakeholders. They can make use the knowledge gathered during the seminars in long-term policymaking and preparedness plans for disasters, development of technical know-how for the future, and development of school & university curriculum. In long-term, it will help to reduce the vulnerability of the economy of the country to any future climate change. Relevance to the APN CAPaBLE Programme and its Objectives Raising awareness and dissemination of climate change issues among policy- makers and civil society is one of the primary objectives of the APN-CAPaBLE programme. Hence, the activities carried out under this project are directly relevant to the objectives of APN-CAPaBLE program. Self evaluation In general, the expected outcomes of the program were achieved with occasional exemptions. Even though, it was initially planned to hold 18 seminars through out the country, the project was terminated with successful completion of 24 seminars. However, some programmes were not conducted at scheduled times due to interferences from the routine administrative activities (i.e. general election) and compelled to reschedule to some other dates. As a result, some key participants were unable to attend the seminars. Meanwhile, there were large numbers of requests for similar kind of seminars by the stakeholders in their own macro- institutes. It resembles the relevance of the contents of each presentation to respective stakeholders. Potential for further work In order to meet immense demand for similar kind of seminars by the stakeholders, specially by the school teachers, planters, and grass root level government officers, another series of seminars can be organized with the financial support of the APN. Computer Aided Learning (CAL) system on Vulnerability, Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change can be developed specially for school teachers. It can be used as a teaching tool to educate school children more effective manner. -4 - Publications 2006 January, National Climate Change Public Awareness and Outreach in Sri Lanka, APN Newsletter, Volume 12, Issue 1. 2006 February, Interim Report of National Climate Change Public Awareness and Outreach in Sri Lanka, Website of Centre for Climate change Studies, (www.meteo.slt.lk/cccs) [address of the website will be changed to www.meteo.gov.lk/climate/cccs) 2006 November, Final Report of National Climate Change Public Awareness and Outreach in Sri Lanka, Website of Centre for Climate change Studies, (www.meteo.gov.lk/climate/cccs) Acknowledgments • CAPaBLE programme of APN, Japan for financial assistance • Director General, Department of Meteorology, for providing resource persons and in kind support • Director General, Department of Agriculture, for providing resource person and providing in-kind support • Director General, NBRO, for providing resource persons • Director, Teaching Hospital of Anuradhapura and Panadura for providing resource persons • Ministry of Healthcare & Nutrition for providing resource person • District Secretaries of Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kalutara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kegalle, Matale, Matara, Gampaha, Puttalam, Monaragala, Ratnapura, for coordinating seminars and providing in-kind support • Director, Wayamba Environmental Authority for coordinating seminar • Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna for coordinating seminar and providing in-kind support • Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sabaragamuwa for coordinating seminar and providing in-kind support • Principal, Mahamaya College, Kandy for providing conference facilities • Principal, St. Josephs College, Kegalle for providing conference facilities • Principal, St. Mary’s College, Hambantota for providing conference facilities • Zonal Directors of Education of Kandy, Kegalle, Hambantota and Badulla for coordinating seminars -5 - Technical Report Abstract This project was primarily focused on the dissemination of information contained in the reports of IPCC Working Group II and III and recent findings related to climate change in Sri Lanka (e.g. AIACC-AS12). This was accomplished by conducting 25 seminars at many administrative districts of Sri Lanka within a period of 20 months. The composition of the participants in these seminars represented different stakeholders including policymakers, district level administrative, school teachers and students. Six Leaflets on climate change issue, which were prepared under the project, were distributed among the participants of each seminar. A documentary film, which was produced under the project, was also screened during the last several seminars and on a national TV channel. -6 - Table of Contents Page No. Cover page 1 Overview of project work and outcomes Non Technical summary 3 Objectives 3 Amount received and number years supported 3 Results 4 Relevance to the APN CAPaBLE Programme and its Objectives 4 Potential for further work 4 Publications 5 Acknowledgments 5 Technical Report Abstract 6 Table of Contents 7 Table of Contents of Figures 8 Introduction 9 Seminar Outputs 11 APN-Funded Participants 31 Conclusions 32 References 33 Appendix I 35 Appendix II 62 -7 - Table of Contents of Figures Fig. No. Fig. Description Page No. 2:1 Sector Representation in Colombo Seminar 14 2:2 Sector Representation in Nuwara Eliya Seminar 14 2:3 Sector Representation in Peradeniya Seminar 16 2:4 Sector Representation in Ratnapura Seminar 16 2:5 Sector Representation in Kegalle Seminar 17 2:6 Sector Representation in Passara Seminar 18 2:7 Sector Representation in Monaragala Seminar 19 2:8 Sector Representation in Anuradhapura Seminar 20 2:9 Sector Representation in Polonnaruwa Seminar 20 2:10 Sector Representation in Matara Seminar