Thursday, 28 November 2013 00:00
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Prompts for action by the Commonwealth Heads of States on climate change
Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) in collaboration with the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) organised a forum of discussion – ‘The Colloquium’ to address the need for urban resilience. The session was also aimed at receiving the contributions of industry professionals for the resolution calling the need for urban resilience, which was forwarded to the Commonwealth Ministerial Access Group through which it was submitted to the Commonwealth Heads of States.
The Colloquium was held on 15 November 2013, under the SLIA’s spectacle International Architectural Exhibition at ‘Reflection of Sri Lanka’ – Exhibition on Trade, Industry, Culture and Tourism, held parallel to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF).
The session saw the participation of professionals representing the main pillars of the domestic Construction Industry, that is, the Institute of Valuers of Sri Lanka (IVSL), National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL), Institute of Construction Training and Development (ICTAD), Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL), Institute of Town Planners Sri Lanka (ITPSL), Institute of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) and the Urban Development Authority (UDA).
Implement novel development strategies
“Urban resilience is a concept we feel that should be emphasised and promoted, given the context where Sri Lanka is now experiencing rapid urban development. Our urban development design when compared with other countries in the region is at a far better standard. Yet we need to be take a step forward and implement novel development strategies,” said Commonwealth Association of Architects President Archt. Rukshan Widyalankara, stressing on the need for strategies to resolve matters relating to the built environment.
Climate change represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to humanity where it will increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Thus, this issue requires prioritised attention of all stakeholders. The resolution brought forward by the SLIA and CAA bases their recommendations on five main areas:
Resisting further urban development in areas at high risk from extreme natural events.
Implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies in existing areas at high risk from extreme natural events through accommodation, incorporation and retreat mechanisms.
Decoupling the energy/water/emissions nexus by pursuing alternative and innovative technologies aimed at building resilience among communities, especially the poor through the provision of off-grid services.
Narrowing the significant gap between the aggregate effect of parties’ mitigation pledges in terms of global annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 and aggregate emission pathways by reducing the demand for fossil fuel derived energy associated with building heating and cooling loads through the regulation of high-performance building envelope standards.
Deciding to establish an Ad Hoc working group on long term corporative action to assist the Commonwealth Secretariat in exploring and developing urban adaptation and mitigation strategies in accordance with this resolution.
Commenting on the venture, SLIA President Professor Chitra Weddikkara said, “It is good to see professionals representing all sectors of the construction industry gathered to address this stressing issue,” adding that SLIA invited all professionals to join hands with the association to create a Resolution Task Force to ensure the implementation of the resolution.
