Sustainability taking the back seat on the road to recovery

Sustainability is not a top priority during a crisis, however, as a holistic forward looking performance indicator, it should not be forgotten. According to official UN data, Sri Lanka is now rated 76th out of 163 nations in the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Index rating. While there has not been a significant change in position, the worsening country situation is likely to erode the ranking. 

The UN World Food Program has already flashed the warning lights on Sri Lanka’s food insecurity. Previously flashing amber, in response to the present crisis, the lights now shine in red. 37% of the population is food insecure, with the remaining 70% making due with significantly less food intake according to the most recent reports. It will be difficult for the nation to meet the 2030 targets, for goal two ‘Zero Hunger’ and goal eight ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’. 

According to estimates, the ballooning national debt of $ 51 billion, and now with further sovereign default being a possibility, targets have been pushed 5 years into the future. One must eat to exist, and with food becoming more and more expensive, producing one’s own food to obtain essential proteins and other nutrients is an option that must be given consideration.

In Sri Lanka, home gardens make up 13% of the total land area and these have been developed for many years with the primary goal of supplementing food purchased from markets. While they gained popularity when people were forced to stay inside during the pandemic-related lockdowns, continued soft encouragement, as a key component of sustainable agriculture, should be explored.

Agriculture, one of Sri Lanka’s more sustainable industries, was severely impacted owing to the fertiliser ban and other policy disruptions. Since roughly half of the population works in agriculture either directly or indirectly, progress toward the ‘No Poverty’ goal too will deteriorate. In order to combat impending poverty as well as hunger, Sri Lanka’s SDG initiatives should place a high premium on helping vulnerable groups, particularly those in low-income industries. 

According to the World Bank’s Macro Poverty Outlook for Sri Lanka study, the poverty rate would increase from 10% in 2019 to 11.7% in 2022. 

The World Bank study also highlighted the link between rising inflation and increasing consumer prices. People’s frustration with the government is growing as they try to make ends meet. Crackdowns by the Government have been carried out in reaction to widespread protests that got underway in March of this year. Human rights violations, particularly the recent detentions of peaceful protesters in Colombo, have affected Sri Lanka’s performance in reaching goal 16—”Peace, justice, and strong institutions”. 

A report on economic, social, and cultural rights by an Amnesty International researcher, also mentioned severe shortages of essential supplies like equipment and life-saving drugs like insulin and antibiotics.

This is why any solution, to be all encompassing should broadly have sustainability at the wheel. For example, issuing green bonds and “debts for climate” swap scheme payments for conservation, including watershed management in the central highlands, which is essential for maintaining water resources, can ensure both public and private sector cooperation. Ecological programs offer an incentive to the twin issues of sustainability and debt hardship. 

Sri Lanka has most of its important development goals and plans in place for the upcoming few years in accordance with the main international accords on biodiversity. The current downturn offers a chance to pique donor organisations’ interest in joining green financing partnerships. The need to evaluate regional sustainability development, protecting vulnerable groups and take national level steps, rather than window dressing figures or depending on national statistics to improve with time, is now.