Sri Lanka’s industrial giants rally for decarbonization drive

Energy professionals from leading industries complete training on GHG Accounting, Verification & Reporting

Earlier this month, 23 professionals from Sri Lanka’s industrial sector completed training in Greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting standards through a United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) programme conducted under the EU-Funded Accelerating Industries’ Climate Response in Sri Lanka project.

With Sri Lanka aiming to cut industry GHG emissions by 7% by 2030, knowing how and where these are being made will play a critical role in putting the right plans in place to systematically reduce emissions. This first group of trainees can now use their new knowledge and skills to enable their workplaces to better track and report on emissions, benefiting their businesses and contributing to the country’s climate and energy transition goals.

The five-month training programme was led by local and international experts and implemented by the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC). It combined traditional classroom sessions with online modules, field visits, real-world case studies and practical applications within industrial settings. Leonie Vaas, Head of Sustainability at Hayleys Fabrics, a leading fabric manufacturer in Sri Lanka, noted the training’s real-time engagement through projects and problem-solving helped the company go beyond organizational-level accounting and drill down to emissions accounting at a project and product level.

The primary objective of the training was to equip participants with the knowledge to accurately measure and curtail emissions throughout their operational and supply chain processes. Systems taught by the programme have helped Gayan Samarakoon, a Sustainability Manager at Hirdaramani Industries, to set targets and track and report emissions against the Science Based Targets Initiatives (SBTI) as part of the apparel manufacturer’s drive toward net-zero.

Reflecting how interested and committed Sri Lanka’s industries are to act on climate change, the programme had over 300 applications from energy professionals at various levels. Anticipating the continued momentum, a second cohort of trainees is slated to embark on the programme in 2024, with additional Training of Trainers initiatives expected to reach a broader spectrum of industries.

Led by the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Industries and Ministry of Power and Energy, the Accelerating Industries’ Climate Response in Sri Lanka project is running a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing the capacities of industries and government. These efforts include establishing a Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system for the industrial sector, which is important as Sri Lanka gears up to report its progress against emissions reduction targets outlined in the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Empowering industries with the ability to accurately measure and report emissions is critical for the national decarbonization agenda, ensuring that Sri Lanka’s climate aspirations are grounded in practical and achievable outcomes.