Project Name: Consultancy Services to Develop 2050 Carbon Net Zero Road Map and Strategic Plan for Sri Lanka

Project Period: August 2022 – May 2023

Client: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Project Funding Agency: Private Funding (Through UNDP)

Objective of the Project: To formulate a comprehensive, inclusive, and practical Road Map and Strategic Plan for Sri Lanka to achieve Carbon Net Zero by 2050. The goal is to provide a policy-backed, stakeholder-accepted, and periodically reviewable national framework, aligned with international climate commitments, for implementation at all levels of governance.

General: The project focused on developing a robust and actionable roadmap, supported by a strategic plan, to guide Sri Lanka toward achieving Carbon Net Zero by 2050. This involved multi-sectoral assessments, modeling, and stakeholder engagement to ensure feasibility, inclusiveness, and sustainability. The following critical elements were addressed:

• Scope Definition: Clarified the national scope for Carbon Net Zero through stakeholder consultation and alignment with international standards.

• Emission Baseline & Projections: Using IPCC guidelines, actual emissions from all key sectors were assessed, with projections made for future emissions and carbon sequestration up to 2050.

• Sector-Wise Roadmaps: Developed comprehensive mitigation roadmaps for Energy, Transport, and Industry, Waste, Agriculture, and Forestry sectors, with scenario modeling against Business-As-Usual projections.

• Gender & Social Inclusion: A detailed gender and social inclusion analysis ensured the roadmap is both equitable and inclusive.

• Policy & Economic Analysis: Sectoral analyses were conducted in line with the country’s socio-economic realities, identifying viable policy interventions and potential market mechanisms (including under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement).

• Strategic Implementation Plan: Outlined a practical implementation mechanism, including review and update systems, institutional frameworks, and periodic monitoring to accelerate progress.

A multidisciplinary team of senior academics, technical experts, economists, gender specialists, and sector consultants contributed to the project. The roadmap is designed to integrate seamlessly into Sri Lanka’s national climate policy framework and be adaptable to future changes.