Climate Change in Sri Lanka: A Call for Gender-Focused Action
Sri Lanka, despite being a low-carbon emitting country, is highly vulnerable to climate change, consistently ranking among the top ten countries at risk of extreme weather events. The nation faces significant financial losses from disasters, averaging LKR 50 billion (USD 313 million) annually due to damage to housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and relief efforts. Floods account for the largest share of these losses, followed by cyclones, high winds, droughts, and landslides.
The country’s heavy reliance on climate-sensitive livelihoods like agriculture, fisheries, and tea plantations makes it particularly susceptible to disruptions from monsoons, altered rainfall, and other weather-induced events. Projections indicate increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and intensified rainfall variability, especially during the Yala season. Rising sea levels are also a grave concern, particularly for the South and Southwestern coastal areas, threatening displacement, ecosystems, infrastructure, and water scarcity.
In response, Sri Lanka ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016 and updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2020, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 and 70% renewable energy in electricity generation by 2030. The country has also implemented various initiatives, including banning agro-chemicals and single-use plastics, and promoting organic farming and e-mobility. While some NDC actions are unconditional and tackled by the government, others are conditional and rely on international support for climate financing and technology transfer.
Despite robust policy frameworks for climate change mitigation and adaptation, the primary focus remains on economic resilience, often sidelining vulnerable communities. These vulnerable groups include women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and low-income communities engaged in agriculture and fisheries.
The Disproportionate Impact on Women
Women in Sri Lanka are disproportionately affected by climate risks, especially pregnant women, mothers, and those from marginalized communities. While women contribute significantly to the rural agricultural sector (33-34%), their roles in food systems, poverty reduction, and climate resilience often go unrecognized in national data and policy. Climate change exacerbates these inequalities, leading to increased crop losses and, in many cases, male migration to urban centers, leaving women with a “triple burden” of household, agricultural, and income-generating responsibilities.
Women also perform 76.2% of global care work, which intensifies with environmental degradation and resource scarcity. This increased workload reduces their opportunities for income and limits their access to education, healthcare, and decision-making processes.
Towards a Just Transition
For Sri Lanka to achieve a truly “Just Transition” that leaves no one behind, its climate policies must move beyond a purely economic focus and adopt an intersectional approach. Key areas for improvement include:
By centering vulnerable women and addressing gender inequalities, Sri Lanka can move towards a more equitable and effective climate action strategy.