Sri Lanka
Introduction
Sri Lanka joined the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) in 2011 and serves on the Biogas Subcommittee.
Sri Lanka has multiple cross-sector national strategies to address methane emissions and implement measures that support the country’s climate goals. These measures include expansion of biogas as an energy source, the phase out of coal power plants, and specific methane emission reduction targets. Sri Lanka also participates in international collaborations to achieve global methane goals.
Sri Lanka is currently active on the Biogas Subcommittee.
- Introduction
- Methane Emissions Summary
- Methane Commitments and Plans
- Methane Actions
- Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
- GMI Delegates
Last Updated: October 2024
Methane Emissions Summary
In 2010, methane contributed to 20% of Sri Lanka’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Methane is the primary greenhouse gas contributing to emissions in the agriculture sector.
Estimated and Projected Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Agriculture Sector, 2000-2050
Source: Ministry of Environment, Carbon Net Zero 2050 Roadmap and Strategic Plan, August 2023: https://climatechange.lk/CarbonNetZero2050.pdf
Methane Commitments and Plans
Methane mitigation efforts in Sri Lanka are guided by national and international commitments and plans. Sri Lanka also engages in partnerships dedicated to addressing methane.
National
- Sri Lanka’s 2023 Carbon Net Zero 2050 Roadmap and Strategic Plan provides a detailed analysis of the country’s methane emissions broken down by sector and implements a range of methane mitigation measures.
- Sri Lanka’s Third National Communication of Climate Change, published in 2022, summarizes the country’s methane emission trends.
- Sri Lanka submitted its Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (2021-2030) in July 2021 which establishes new methane emission reduction commitments, supports the use of biogas technology to manage methane abatement, implementation of methane capture practices at landfills, and methane emission management from livestock activities.
International
- Sri Lanka joined the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) in 2021 at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP26), agreeing to take voluntary actions to contribute to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
Methane Actions
The following highlights a sampling of actions taken by Sri Lanka to address methane, organized by GMI sector.
Biogas Sector
- Biomass Energy 2022 is a project implemented by Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Energy Authority and the Ministry of Power and Energy to increase the market share of biomass energy and adopt biomass-based energy technologies across the country.
Coal Mines Sector
- Sri Lanka joined several other countries to announce the No New Coal Power Compact in 2021, a commitment to halt construction on new coal power plants.
Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
Explore the following website to learn more about the government ministries addressing methane emissions.
GMI Delegates
| Committee/Subcommittee | Delegate Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Biogas Subcommittee | J.A.T. Dilhani | Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority |