Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ Greenpeace launched its South Asia regional office in Colombo yesterday, heralded by the arrival of the iconic ship Rainbow Warrior, marking the initiation of the eagerly awaited ‘People for Climate – Greenpeace Indian Ocean Ship Tour 2024’. The commencement ceremony attracted notable guests, including influencers, youth groups, authorities, celebrities, and allies, all united in their support of Greenpeace’s mission to combat climate change.
Also read: INDIA’S UPI SERVICES DEBUT IN SRI LANKA AND MAURITIUS
Speaking at the event, Jehan CanagaRetna, an environmentalist and Greenpeace South Asia board member, highlighted the environmental crisis faced by Sri Lanka, emphasizing the disproportionate impact of climate change on the country’s agriculture and livelihoods despite its minimal role in contributing to global emissions. He stated, “Here in Sri Lanka, we’re experiencing an environmental crisis, with climate change disrupting our agriculture and livelihoods. Despite our minimal role in contributing to climate change, as a biodiversity hotspot in Southern Asia, we’re disproportionately impacted. It’s imperative for us, alongside Greenpeace South Asia and other local environmental movements, to advocate for a dedicated climate change foundation in Sri Lanka.”
Also read: PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2024: FINAL RESULTS OUT – WHO IS THE NEXT PM?
With over a billion and a half inhabitants across eight different countries, the South Asian region boasts some of the world’s most ecologically sensitive areas. Moreover, statistics reveal that the region harbors the second-largest share of the global poor. The vulnerability of this population to the effects of climate change is exacerbated by multidimensional poverty, reliance on natural resources, and unpredictable weather patterns. Further, a World Bank report indicates that over 800 million South Asians reside in future climate change hotspots, where living conditions are projected to deteriorate significantly.
Binu Jacob, the Executive Director of Greenpeace South Asia/India, emphasized the disproportionate burden of climate change borne by large segments of the population, particularly in the global south. He underscored the necessity for collective action from governments, corporations, and individuals, stressing the personal significance of the climate crisis to each individual.
Amruta SN, a campaigner at Greenpeace South Asia/India, emphasized the importance of solidarity among the people of the South Asian region, urging them to transcend geopolitical complexities and unite their voices for a common cause. Greenpeace South Asia serves as a platform to amplify these diverse voices and foster collaboration across the region. She stated, “Today it is imperative that every single government, corporation, and individual act as a stakeholder in this movement, as this is a very personal cause for each and every one of us. As people of the South Asian region, it is especially important that we are not weighed down by the complexity of geo-politics and acknowledge the need to speak as one collective voice”.
The initiatives of Greenpeace will continue until February 18th, encompassing a diverse range of events aimed at engaging local communities, youth representatives, policymakers, stakeholders, social media influencers, media outlets, educational institutions, donors, volunteers, and supporters. Through these collective endeavors, they seek to address pressing issues such as climate change, pollution, and the preservation of marine biodiversity, all from the unique perspective of the South Asian region.
