The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has announced the inaugural Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2024, with the theme “Code Red: Climate Risks and Opportunities for Sri Lankan Businesses.” Scheduled from 7 to 9 May at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo, this summit aims to foster a national dialogue on the imminent risks of climate change and the potential opportunities it presents to Sri Lankan businesses. President Ranil Wickremesinghe will serve as the Chief Guest, setting the stage for discussions on climate risks, growth opportunities, and policy measures needed for businesses to thrive in a decarbonizing world.
The summit will feature a distinguished lineup of national and international leaders in climate action. Speakers include Dr. Arunabha Ghosh from the Council for Energy and Water, Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala from IIT Madras Research Park, Dhruba Purkayastha from Climate Policy Initiative India, and Dr. Lalanath De Silva from Transparentem and IKI-Germany. Other notable speakers include Azusa Kubota from UNDP Sri Lanka, Kusum Athukorala from Global Water Partnership South Asia, and Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne, a Naturalist and Conservationist.
The summit’s agenda covers a wide range of topics such as climate science, global and local impacts of the climate crisis, climate adaptation, decarbonization, and climate financing mechanisms. The event aims to consolidate insights into an actionable Climate Action Plan, driving Sri Lanka’s transition towards a green and equitable economy.