National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka, 2016-2025

The National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka (NAP) was prepared in line with the broad set of guidelines set forth by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for the development of national adaptation plans. The NAP process of UNFCCC is a generalized process consisting of four stages that could be customized according to specific situations in respective countries. The NAP process in Sri Lanka started from the stage of preparatory elements and a country-specific NAP methodology was developed and adopted based on the broader guidelines of the UNFCCC. The NAP covers adaptation needs at two levels, namely; adaptation needs of key vulnerable sectors and cross-cutting national needs of adaptation. 

Nine vulnerable sectors were identified in the consultative process, including:

1. Food security
2. Water
3. Coastal sector
4. Health
5. Human settlements
6. Bio-diversity
7. Tourism and recreation
8. Export development
9. Industry- energy-transportation

Broader stakeholder consultation adopted in the preparation of the NAP has helped to identify adaptation needs of each vulnerable sector based on logical criteria involving projections, vulnerabilities, impacts and socio-economic outcomes. The NAP identifies adaptation options that can fulfill these needs and actions necessary to achieve these adaptation options with responsible agencies and key performance indicators. They together constitute the sectoral action plans for each vulnerable sector. The NAP also includes interventions necessary to fulfill cross-cutting national needs of adaptation identified on the basis of analyzing common sectoral needs and opinions of key stakeholders. The plan also proposes an institutional and coordination mechanism along with implementation and resource mobilization strategies for the successful implementation of the NAP based on a realistic timeframe.