Youth Partnership on Climate and Disaster Risk Management in Sri Lanka launched

Youth participants at the launch event 

Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Dr. Sunimal Jayathunga speaking at the event

SLYCAN Trust Executive Director Attorney-at-law Vositha Wijenayake speaking at the event

The Youth Partnership on Climate and Disaster Risk Management in Sri Lanka was launched on 1 September 2022. The Partnership is hosted by SLYCAN Trust and aims to build climate and disaster risk resilience among youth and facilitate their engagement in championing risk management in the country. 

Further, it is interlinked with the Global Youth Forum on Climate Change (GYFCC) organised by SLYCAN Trust in Sri Lanka in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and the Climate Change Secretariat of Sri Lanka.

The Partnership and the Youth Forum are part of a global effort to enhance capacities of youth and empower them to lead climate action on all levels, building on SLYCAN Trust’s work which recognises the importance of youth as a key stakeholder group in climate policy and action.

Addressing the event, the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Dr. Sunimal Jayathunga, highlighted the importance of youth engagement in climate action: “Youth are a key stakeholder in addressing climate change impacts, and we recognised this in our activities on climate change. 

“While youth are highly vulnerable to climate change, they also have the capacity to be champions of change, contribute to building resilience to climate change, and lead climate action through creative solutions and innovation.”

Dr. Jayathunga further explained that the partnership between the Ministry of Environment and SLYCAN Trust in organising the Global Youth Forum in Sri Lanka has contributed to capacity-building and engaging with youth in climate action.

“The partnership with the Global Youth Forum on Climate Change over the years has allowed us to engage with youth, share with them the activities on climate change being conducted, and provide an opportunity for youth in Sri Lanka to build their capacities on climate change. When the Global Youth Forum on Climate Change was initiated in Sri Lanka in 2016, the Climate Change Secretariat and the Ministry of Environment partnered with SLYCAN Trust and supported the initiative. 

“Our continued engagement over the years with the initiative is a recognition of the need and the importance to engage youth in an effective manner in the climate related processes,” he added.

Speaking at the event, SLYCAN Trust Executive Director Vositha Wijenayake, spoke on the Youth Partnership on Climate and Disaster Risk Management and its interlinkages with the Youth Forum. She mentioned that the Partnership builds on the thematic track on climate risk management under the Youth Forum and applies a three-tiered approach which includes engaging youth, building their capacities, and empowering them for enhanced resilience.

“The Youth Partnership on Climate and Disaster Risk Management builds on the Youth Forum and is integrated with it to build resilience of youth and implement youth-led action which empowers youth and other stakeholders. This is the first step aimed at effective engagement of youth towards long-term resilience building at the local, national, and global level,” she added.

Among other participants of the launch event were Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Saman Waduge, representatives of other Government entities, diplomats, UN entities, international development agencies, civil society organisations, and youth.

The activities of the Partnership and the Youth Forum will be implemented through collaborations and partnerships focused on climate action and climate and disaster risk management in Sri Lanka. 

For further information regarding the initiatives kindly write to [email protected] or call us on 0760707387.