Ceylon Chamber Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2024 on May 7-9

From left: Kira Consulting International Sustainability and Environmental Consultant Dr. Kiran Dhanapala, Advisor, Presidential Secretariat Dr. Ananda Mallawatantri, Chairman of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Duminda Hulangamuwa, Chairman Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company Dilhan Fernando, and Founder of Innosolve Lanka, Sheran Fernando

• ‘Code Red: Climate risks and opportunities for Sri Lankan companies’

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has announced the first Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2024, themed ‘Code Red: Climate Risks and Opportunities for Sri Lankan Businesses’, from May 7 to 9 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo.

As scientists warn of the potentially devastating consequences of accelerating climate change, the summit will serve as a platform for a national dialogue on the looming risks of climate change and the opportunities presented by Sri Lankan business.

As chief guest, President Ranil Wickremesinghe will address the inauguration of the summit and set the context for the deliberations and discussions that will follow.

Over three days, an impressive line-up of national and international climate action leaders will explore climate risks and opportunities, the facilitation needed to mitigate risks and successfully capture growth opportunities, and proactive policy measures to ensure Sri Lankan companies are functioning well. positioned to thrive in a world increasingly focused on decarbonizing the economy.

Speakers include CEO of the Council for Energy and Water, Dr. Arunabha Ghosh, Chairman of the IIT Madras Research Park, Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Director of the Climate Policy Initiative India, Dhruba Purkayastha, Managing Director of Transparentem and International Climate Initiative (IKI-Germany), member of the independent complaints mechanism panel, Dr. Lalanath De Silva, Resident Representative of UNDP in Sri Lanka Azusa Kubota, Global Water Partnership South Asia Regional Chair Kusum Athukorala, Country Representative of the Global Green Growth Institute Dr. Sonali Senaratna Sellamuttu, Biodiversity Scientist Rohan Pethiyagoda, TWCorp Ltd. and Sapphirus Lanka Ltd. Chairman Thilan Wijesinghe, naturalist and conservationist Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, and many other industry specialists.

The summit agenda covers a range of topics from understanding climate science and the risks and opportunities for businesses, the global and local impact of the climate crisis, climate adaptation and resilience, decarbonisation and climate finance mechanisms. The event promises a comprehensive dialogue among stakeholders, consolidating key insights and insights into an implementable climate action plan that will drive Sri Lanka’s green and just economic transition.