Sustainable development: Is this the panacea

for Sri Lankas ills?

Friday, 16 June 2017

Sri Lanka continues to be under the spotlight in the local and as well as in the
international media for all the wrong reasons. The massive floods in May 2017
killed nearly 200 innocent people and more than 200 are still missing.

The floods in Sri Lanka in May 2017 are one such tipping point. It displaced
around half a million people and the estimated damage cost of the floods is Rs. 30
billion. The Meethotamulla garbage disaster which killed 32 people is another
recent tragedy that has raised the eyebrows of the nation. The chronic kidney
disease which has killed nearly 25,000 people in the dry zone over the last two
decades is another blot on the escutcheon that could have been resolved.

These came as a shock to many in Sri Lanka including the politicians but not to
many others who had a good grasp of the multitude of ways by which the Sri
Lankan environment and society were destroyed by myopic, narrow-minded
policy decisions by all governments for decades. Media comments tend to be
apocalyptic in tone in recent months targeting these unfortunate events.
To a large extent these results are preordained by the way governments are
elected and the way the country is run, both of which are fatally flawed. When
President Sirisena was elected in 2015, there was a ray of hope that the
environment will receive priority attention it deserves. He displayed genuine
environmental vision but this optimism quickly dissipated when many bad
decisions made spawned a daunting array of challenges for the people and the
country.

Mismanaging critical environmental attributes

A common feature of all disasters experienced in Sri Lanka is that they emanate
from mismanaging the critical environmental attributes of the country by the
Government and the people alike. Sri Lankas environmental resources such as
forests, water, rivers and wetlands deserve careful attention and protection as
they form the basis of life of a nation. Severe deforestation still occurs in Sri Lanka
and the UN estimated that 8,000 ha of forest are cleared every year even now.

Corruption, mismanagement and covert and overt support by politicians

exacerbate this destruction. Climate change, droughts and floods are closely
related to deforestation and people and politicians are all culpable in this tragedy.
The severe droughts and floods in many regions in Sri Lanka and growing water
scarcity, and air pollution have already had a major impact on Sri Lankas
economic growth and development.

This trend is clearly a deep worry for Sri Lanka in the 21st century as Asia is
destined to be the economic centre of gravity of the world by 2040. The issues are
not new but are the cumulative results of years of mismanagement of the country
by all governments, present and previous. The head in the sand attitude of the
present Government and a large but impotent Cabinet have exacerbated the
disasters in the country.

Enlightened and deeper understanding of the environment, economic growth,

and poverty and their interconnections are necessary to usher in a promising
future for Sri Lanka. I believe that we can still achieve this provided that the
Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government makes the very hard decisions necessary.
These hard decisions need the backing of many academics in universities,
research institutes, bureaucrats and independent thinkers in Sri Lanka who can
provide the expert knowledge in their special areas. These academics are vital to
provide effective leadership to the Sri Lankan Government because the global
system is driven by knowledge, information, revolutionary communications
technologies and ideas.

The present Cabinet is hardly the place to look for the critical developmental
inputs necessary. Knowledge is replacing resources and Sri Lanka has not
positioned herself to benefit from this global trend. The university system can
nurture the hopes of society if we can shore up their sagging image and solve
myriads of continuing conflicts. We celebrate the global knowledge economy
concomitantly undermining its foundations. Perhaps separation of higher
education from highways may be a useful idea.

Embrace the goals of sustainable development

Sri Lanka should embrace the goals of sustainable development which

is the only true development trajectory left. In 2015, the UN developed the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ratified by 193 countries, including Sri
Lanka. The SDGs were designed to mobilise global scientific and technological
expertise to promote practical problem-solving by governments for sustainable
development. Sri Lanka is fully committed to support the implementation of the
SDGs.

President Sirisena made a promising speech to the UN where he reaffirmed: Sri

Lanka is fully committed to dealing with the Sustainable Development Goals. He
agreed to minimise risks of possible environmental hazards and climate change
on Sri Lankas contemporary development challenges which included poverty
alleviation, food security, increasing aging population and natural disasters.

The Prime Minister attended and spoke at the UN Oceans Conference, in New
York on 6 June, to discuss freedom of navigation, marine habitats, quality and
temperature of sea water and focus on the UNs 2030 Sustainable Development
Goals relating to the sustainable use of the oceans. Clearly, Sri Lankas top
echelons are fully committed to sustainable development at least in words if not
in deeds.

Can the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Government resolve the complex challenges to

sustainable development for Sri Lankans? Judging by past experiences, President
Sirisena will have an uphill battle even if he is genuine in achieving the 17 SDGs of
the UN. Sustainable development is a complex phenomenon which deals with the
intersection between environment, society and economy, which are highly
interconnected. The separation of environment, society and economy led to
narrow techno-scientific approaches, leading to economic exploitation and
destruction of the environment, communities, and cultural diversity.

Sound policies and correct vision vital

Sound policies based on scientific analysis and a correct vision for the future are
indispensable for supporting sustainable development. Policymakers in Sri Lanka
failed to understand the interconnectedness and the need to ensure holistic
integrated management because of a fractured political system totally
disconnected to the needs of the country, society and the environment.

The policymakers failed to understand that the frequency and intensity of floods
and droughts have risen to dangerous levels due to climate change. The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed that the Earths
climate is getting warmer and the likely increase in temperature ranges from
1.1C to 6.4C and the likely increase in sea level ranges from 0.18 meters to 0.59
meters. The unpredictability of climate extremes mean that Sri Lanka must be
better prepared and be proactive and this is the major role of the Ministry of
disaster Management which failed miserably.

These issues will intensify and even worse disasters will occur and Sri Lanka is not
prepared. Asia contributed 31% of global emissions in 2006 which is expected to
rise to 42.1% of global emissions in 2030. Much of the emissions have been due
to forest clearing in South East Asian (SEA) countries which also destroyed
considerable biodiversity and ecosystem services. Forest clearing and logging are
still occurring in Sri Lanka against ministerial imperatives and some politicians are
complicit in this tragedy impacting our economic future and livelihoods. Tourism
is permitted even during drought years in Yala, and Wilpattu which is most
unsound from an environmental conservation perspective.

The Sri Lankan Government

Sri Lankan Governments political will and institutional capacity to develop
effective strategies is limited and hence political responses to environmental
problems are weak. We need to bring in a different vision towards environmental
conservation. Embracing its multi-disciplinary and holistic nature of sustainable
development and explicitly recognising economic, environmental and social issues
is critical.

The Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers and Deputy Ministers, a majority of whom
have a poor educational profile, cannot contribute much to this vision. Politics in
Sri Lanka has got fragmented and broken and unified thinking and decisions
making is not possible. This multitude of ministries has become an arena for
political contestation, inter-ministerial conflicts and power struggles as we can
see in the recent cabinet reshuffles.

The institutional mechanisms and procedural norms and oversight responsibilities

of Parliament are equally confusing. The Ministries deal with cross-cutting and
overlapping issues and the specific jurisdictions are not clear. This general
deterioration of political culture and growth of political fragmentation is
accompanied by a decline in quality of political institutions and governance.
The Parliament has 94 members without even the most basic qualification (GCE
Ordinary Level). How such a grouping can preside over the destiny of this nation
and spearhead development defies understanding. I believe that all right-thinking
Sri Lankans call for immediate steps to be taken to ensure that the Parliament is
of high quality. It is not surprising that there is decline in efficiency and
performance and that much has not been achieved. The political outcomes are
not much different to any previous regime. Regardless of qualifications, these
parliamentarians will all get the same perks including expensive cars. What is the
return to the country from spending Rs. 50 million on a car for a person who does
not even have GCE (Ordinary Level) or even a university degree? Not much.

Government has

clearly failed
The Government has clearly failed to identify and allocate ministerial
responsibilities on a scientific basis and there must be synergies when several
sectors are allocated to one Minister. The most bizarre cohabitation is the
combination of higher education with highways. Another oxymoron is the
Ministry of Sustainable Development and Wildlife. Wildlife is part of sustainable
development and not apart from it.

The Ministrys activities are even more baffling. The decision made recently is that
rubbish depots inside wilderness areas should have electric fences around them
to protect the elephants who are attracted to them because they have nothing to
eat. There are 54 waste disposing dumps located in wildlife zones and about 300
wild elephants are loitering around those dumps. Many elephants died because
they ate plastic from the rubbish dumps. In 2016, 174 elephants were killed.

The simple solution is to remove all rubbish dumps from wilderness areas and
allow those areas to grow into natural wilderness thus expanding the area of
wilderness for elephants. The rubbish can be separated into biodegradable
material which can be composted and the other material can be reused and
recycled where possible and use of plastics must be halted in the country. These
complex challenges of the modern world are alien to many Ministers who are too
old to absorb new themes and challenges. A dads army is not what President
Sirisena wants and he should look for educated young people to lead the nation
forward.

Another issue is the Ministry of Disaster Management, which does not know even
basics of disaster management, disaster preparedness and minimisation. The
basic problem is not that they do not do anything but because they are
incompetent and do not know how to handle these issues. Other confusions
galore but I cannot discuss all of them here.

The environment is more complex than what many politicians think

Clearly the much-trumpeted sustainable development will not be achieved
because the environment is more complex than what many politicians think.
Many natural and social phenomena are nonlinear and have tipping points.
Sudden collapses of systems can occur once they reach the tipping point. The
floods in May 2017 are one such. They come unannounced and we must be
prepared for that. Climate change is such a phenomenon and a temperature
increase that exceeds 2C can pose existential threat to Sri Lanka. The collapse of
planetary consciousness among the people and politicians is Sri Lanka is tragic.

President Sirisena is environmentally conscious, but lacks a coherent plan and

smart people to address the issues within a sustainable development framework.
Ministries fragmented along illogical lines must now be coalesced into distinct but
more meaningful and holistic ministries which support environmentally benign,
socially equitable and sustainable forms of development.

We are on a collision course with the planet with an expanding world economy on
a finite planet. The FAO, estimates that global food production should increase to
feed 9 billion people by 2050. Humanity is pressing against the finite limits of the
planet endangering millions of species, including the human race. In this new
environment, we need to change course; adopt new sustainable technologies and
get the best intellects in the country and around the world to help solve problems
and design new, more sustainable systems.
Sri Lanka suffers from serious water scarcity and persistent droughts. Nearly 70%
of the water is used for agriculture, livelihood security and environmental
sustainability. The network of small tanks in Sri Lanka represents a socio-
ecological system with deeply interactive relationships between water resources
and social systems in Sri Lanka. Amalgamating the agriculture, irrigation and food
ministries under one roof may be a good idea to reduce the number of ministries.

Shift emphasis towards renewable energy

We must shift our emphasis towards renewable energy. Burning coal and natural
gas in energy generation, transport, industry and households is a major offender
in climate change. A newspaper on 25 May carried an article by Asoka
Abeygunawardhana Chairman, Strategic Enterprise Management Agency, who
was spot on when he said that coal should have no future in Sri Lanka.

Look at Germany, France and where wide use of wind energy and solar. India is
active and hopes to have 20% renewable energy use by 2030. China is highly
proactive to move away from coal to renewables. But Sri Lanka is going in the
opposite direction. If the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) plans to build 2700MW
worth of coal power stations during the period 2018-2037, this will completely
undermine achievement of the SDGs.

The Energy Ministry is an enigma for the nation and under all governments and
Sri Lanka bright young, highly-educated and honest person to put things right in
this Ministry. The person appointed must have a good idea about climate change
and its long-term impact on world weather, the volatility in the oil industry, prices
and demand features, emerging solar, wind and hydro energy in the world and
potential for renewable energy in Sri Lanka. This is a tall order but any Minister
without proven knowledge on these issues will be a disaster for the country.

There is a close correlation between climate change and the increase in the
incidence of dengue in south Asia and Sri Lanka will not be spared. The United
Nations Development Program in a study in 2004 has shown that disaster risks are
considerably higher in developing countries due to lack of coping strategies.

Ignorance, narcissism

and a corrupt and

cynical system
Analysis of data on disasters in 73 nations from 1980 to 2002, shows that richer
nations with robust institutions suffer less death from natural
disasters. According to the UNDP while 11% of those exposed to droughts, floods,
etc. are from the developing countries, 53% of them lose their lives. Even
Bangladesh has recently managed to escape the fury of MORA. Under these
conditions, cabinet reshuffles are and an insult to the intelligence of the Sri
Lankan nation.

These disasters are partly a product of ignorance and narcissism and a corrupt
and cynical system detached from public opinion. Sri Lankan politics has become a
game of powerful and rich politicians for whom pollution, environment and
climate change or floods are of no consequence. Sri Lankans know that first -hand
that her democratic institutions have deteriorated markedly over the last several
decades, and people have lost their confidence on their political institutions.

The mean-spirited policy priorities that are widely backed by sycophantic party
politicians such as expensive cars for them at the expense of programs to help the
poor and working class; increased spending on mega projects and destruction of
the environment has not been halted in spite of wide condemnation by many.

All Sri Lankans want improved standard of living, better environment, and society
and good governance and honest development prerogatives. The Government
and its cronies are fighting public opinion instead of representing it. The Sirisena-
Wickremesinghe Government is their factotum.

President Sirisena must change his vision

President Sirisena must put mega projects (megapolis) on hold and focus on
drainage, water scarcity, wetlands, deforestation, waste management and the
dengue menace and myriad other issues. There must be no more imports of
expensive cars for anybody. He must spur epistemic communities necessary to
coordinate common policy responses to solve these common problems. They
have the knowledge and expertise, and practice and alienating these communities
is counterproductive for Sri Lankas future.

It is now the job of the Sri Lankans to say no to this reckless behaviour and greed,
and reclaim their democratic institutions. The situation is therefore salvageable,
though it remains highly dangerous. Enlightened leadership by President Sirisena
can still provide much-needed life support to the moribund political process in Sri
Lanka.

He can overcome the cynicism, confusion, and obstructionist politics surrounding

efforts to fight poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. If however,
President Sirisena continues to indulge in business as usual, the waves of distrust
and frustration created by a long string of blunders can grow leading to further
conflagration of events to the detriment of his credibility. He is well advised to
pull back from the brink and allow rationality and common sense to play a greater
role on Sri Lankan affairs.

The future remains volatile and ominous. Cool heads and careful deliberation and
clear thinking must prevail and President Sirisena must change his vision from
politics first to country first.

(The writer is Professor of Economics at Monash University, Australia /Malaysia.

He can be reached via gamini.herath@monash.edu.)
Posted by Thavam