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- email us: casymposium2025@gmail.com
- email us: casymposium2025@gmail.com
CAS 2025
Climate Action Symposium
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The Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP) is a groundbreaking initiative designed to address the growing challenges of climate change and water scarcity in Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone. Funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the Government of Sri Lanka in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this project is a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s commitment to climate resilience and sustainable development.
Sri Lanka is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events. These challenges threaten the livelihoods of over 2 million people who depend on agriculture, livestock, and natural resources for their survival. Without urgent action, water scarcity, land degradation and environmental decline could exacerbate poverty, food insecurity, and endanger the lives of the dry zone communities.
Sri Lanka’s first Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), recently published by UNDP Sri Lanka and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), further reveals that 55.7% of Sri Lankans are multidimensionally vulnerable, with water scarcity as a major driver. Nearly 36% of the population faces water-related deprivation, and almost half lack disaster preparedness—leaving them highly exposed to climate shocks.
The CRIWMP adopts a holistic approach to water management, combining innovative infrastructure, community empowerment, and ecosystem restoration to build long-term resilience. By integrating climate-smart technologies, traditional knowledge, and modern science, the project is transforming the Dry Zone ecosystem across irrigation, drinking water, agriculture and environmental sectors.
Key Achievements and Impacts
The CRIWMP is not just a project—it’s a model for climate resilience that can be replicated across Sri Lanka and beyond. By integrating water management, ecosystem restoration, and community empowerment, the project demonstrates how innovative solutions can address the complex challenges of climate change while improving lives and protecting the environment.
As we near the completion of the Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP), our vision extends far beyond its immediate achievements. The success of CRIWMP has laid a strong foundation for a climate-resilient future, but the journey doesn’t end here. Our focus now is on ensuring the sustainability of its impacts and scaling its transformative model to benefit even more communities across Sri Lanka and beyond.
This is where the Climate Action Symposium plays a pivotal role. The symposium is not just a platform for reflection—it is a strategic opportunity to solidify the lessons and learnings from CRIWMP and to create a comprehensive body of knowledge that can catalyze the replication of its proven model. By bringing together experts, policymakers, practitioners, and communities, the symposium will:
The symposium will also emphasize the importance of local ownership and community-driven approaches, which have been central to CRIWMP’s success. By empowering communities to take the lead in managing their resources, we can ensure that climate resilience becomes a sustainable, grassroots movement.
Together, we are paving the way for a climate-resilient future—not just for Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone, but for the entire nation and beyond. The Climate Action Symposium is a critical step in this journey, transforming lessons into action and inspiring a new era of climate innovation and collaboration.
Climate change is a shared challenge, and it requires collective action. We invite you to be part of this transformative journey. Let’s come together at the Climate Action Symposium to share, learn, and act—ensuring a brighter, more resilient future for generations to come.