Despite being highly vulnerable to climate risk, Sri Lanka is slow to tap into climate funding due to a range of issues including inadequate data systems, institutional weaknesses and limited capacity to design and implement viable projects.
The republic is reviewing its strategy to source a third of its nutrition locally by 2030 to better tackle productivity, cost and demand challenges, said a senior minister of state. To date, food self-production remains below 10 per cent.
The award recognises outstanding professionals and youths in Asia Pacific who are driving change across policy, business and society. Judges say clarity of vision and strength in project execution are key attributes they will look out for.
Despite their huge potential as blue carbon sinks, the majority are under threat from the cultivation of palm oil, rice and aquaculture at current carbon prices, on top of cyclones and sea-level rise over the next century, researchers warn.