Linking Expert Knowledge to Generate Policy Insights on Climate Change Adaptation Under Uncertainty
Introduction
Climate change is a global phenomenon which
is fast becoming an inevitable reality. Each country has to develop sound
policies, strategies and practices to combat impacts of climate change. Sri
Lanka is not an exception. While developed countries are more concerned about
mitigation of climate change through investments on low carbon technologies,
developing nations are compelled to focus on adaptation measures. Global
projections indicate developing countries are likely to undergo more hardships
due to impacts of climate change.
Climate change impacts are complex and spread
over a broad spectrum of economic sectors and geographical areas. Among the more vulnerable sectors in Sri
Lanka are agriculture, fisheries, coast conservation, irrigation, health,
disaster management, power and energy and industry. The key strategy to face the impacts of
climate change is adaptation. Adaptation refers to adjustments, which are in response to actual or expected
variability or change in climate in order to moderate and cope with
harmful impacts or to take advantage of opportunities. Human
society in general is adaptive to changing conditions. Nevertheless, wide-ranging
impacts spread over vast geographical areas at relatively rapid pace call for the
necessity of planned efforts of adaptation supported by well-designed
policies.
