Professor Sir Robert Watson is a leading authority on climate change, having led the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He is the current chair of the Intergovernmental Platformfor Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. He had also served as the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Office of Science & Technology Policy to the White House under President Clinton, and the Chief Scientist/Scientific Advisor to the World Bank.

Professor Watson will give two presentations to the Sri Lankan public and the business community during his brief visit to Sri Lanka.

 The American Chamber of Commerce will facilitate a lunch discussion on Climate Change: Opportunities and Challenges for Business withProfessor Sir Robert Watson on the 24th of January 2017 at the Galle Face Hotel (contact AMCHAM at info@amcham.lk or (011)-230-0116, for details and reservations).

 A lecture by Professor Sir Robert Watson on Truth About Climate Change will be held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on the 23rd of January 2017 at 2.30pm. This event will be free for the public.

Sri Lanka is at a cross road in its development journey. Economic growth, on the one hand will create jobs and increase wealth. On the other, it requires energy and other scarce natural resources at affordable prices to make it competitive and financially viable. The economics of this equation however fails to factor in the long term environmental impact of some of the decision we make today in the name of economic development and wealth creation
Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing the world today. There is no doubt that human activities are changing the Earth’s climate leading to warmer temperatures, more extreme weather events and rising sea levels. Most of the impacts of climate change are harmful and will undermine the ability of many countries, especially developing countries, to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Sri Lanka is already seeing the impacts of climate change on economic development and infrastructure.

Businesses globally are seeing challenges, but also opportunities in responding to climate change. Investments in low carbon technology, both energy efficiency and generation, are at an all-time high. Companies are adapting their operations to be resilient to climate change impacts. Companies may face additional challenges if buyers impose limits on the carbon intensity of products. Sri Lanka and its businesses have a significant opportunity to leapfrog to a new energy paradigm to achieve its goals while mitigating climate change and adapting to the grave risks posed by climate change. The time for action is now – It is in Sri Lanka’s self-interest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate.