VZCZCXRO2480
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHLM #0833/01 1631154
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121154Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6233
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1065
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0181
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 5269
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 7162
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 1343
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 3205
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 7749
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 0350
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 5410
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000833 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS; SCA/RA JOHN SCHLOSSER AND ANISH GOEL; 
ANE/AA LISA CHILES AND MARK WARD; ANE/SAA KAY FREEMAN; 
ANE/IR RICHARD STEELMAN; ANE/TS JOHN WILSON,BARNEY POPKIN 
AND CINDY LOWRY; EGAT/I&E JUAN BELT; EGAT/I&E/E GORDON 
WEYNAND; EE/EG/EI ROBERT ICHORD; INDIA/SARI/E ROBYN 
MCGUCKIN 
 
MISSIONS FOR ECON OFFICERS AND USAID DIRECTORS; DEPT. OF 
ENERGY FOR INTERNATIONAL ENERGY COOPERATION/ EUROPEAN AND 
ASIAN AFFAIRS DIR ROBERT PRICE, TOM CUTLER; DEPT. OF 
COMMERCE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE/ PAUL HUEPER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG PREL SENV CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AMBASSADAR HIGHLIGHTS U.S.EFFORTS AT 
EARTH DAY 2007 EVENT 
 
 
SUMMARY: 
 
¶1. Ambassador addressed an event organized by the U.S. 
Embassy, USAID and the Sri Lanka Energy Managers 
Association (SLEMA) to commemorate Earth Day 2007.  Over 
300 school children, government officials, representatives 
of the private sector and local NGOs participated in this 
half day seminar.  The event highlighted issues related to 
climate change, the importance of cleaner energy sources, 
and what all of us can do to use energy more efficiently to 
reduce global warming.  End Summary. 
 
EARTH DAY EVENTS 
---------------- 
¶2. Ambassador delivered the keynote speech at a seminar 
held in Colombo on May 17 to commemorate Earth Day 2007. 
In his speech, he stated that the responsibility to protect 
the environment and prevent global warming falls on all 
sectors and citizens and requires a combination of 
supportive policies, technologies, and, most importantly, 
attitude and lifestyle changes. Ambassador noted that the 
United States, along with 180 countries, had accepted the 
findings and the way forward described in the 4th 
Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 
Change (IPCC).  He elaborated on several of the recent 
decisions taken by the U.S. Government to combat global 
warming, such as President Bush?s announcement committing 
the U.S. to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 
striving to cut emissions per unit of economic activity by 
18% over the next 10 years.  He also discussed President 
Bush?s ?Twenty Ten? plan to cut gasoline consumption and 
greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles by 20 percent 
over the next 10 years.  Speaking on specific technological 
interventions he highlighted the importance of 
incorporating ?green building? concepts in new 
construction, citing the successes of the emerging green 
building industry in India. These were advanced through 
USAID?s support for the first Leadership in Energy and 
Environmental Design (LEED)- certified Green Business 
Center in India.  He stated that the U.S. will continue to 
support international research, invest in science and 
technology, and join hands with the international community 
to develop an efficient and coordinated response to global 
climate change. 
 
¶3. The Earth Day event included three presentations by 
subject matter experts on energy-related themes as well as 
presentations on reducing global warming by students from 
three leading schools.  Over 300 school children, 
government officials, representatives of the private 
sector, and local NGOs participated in the half-day 
seminar. An exhibition with stalls from NGOs, the private 
sector, and school clubs was also organized so that the 
students could interact and gain further information on 
projects, services and appliances available in Sri Lanka to 
increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions. 
 
¶4. The experts who addressed the students provided 
background on the dynamics of energy mixes, how to increase 
the use of renewables, the importance of energy efficiency, 
and how our present lifestyle must adapt to one that is 
geared towards energy conservation.  One of Sri Lanka?s 
most prominent business leaders also addressed the 
gathering, stressing the fact that businesses also have a 
major role to play in climate change mitigation. 
 
¶5. The three presentations from the students were of high 
quality, incorporating scientific details, philosophy, and 
 
COLOMBO 00000833  002 OF 002 
 
 
ideas for social change.  In the spirit of Earth Day they 
all highlighted the need for the current and future 
generations to be more informed and proactive in their 
individual lives as well as in the spheres of policy and 
public action.  The students had done considerable research 
and spoke eloquently in English. 
 
¶6. The key messages shared at the event can be summarized 
as follows:(1) On a global scale, Sri Lanka?s contribution 
to global warming is minimal, however the repercussions of 
this phenomenon will certainly affect Sri Lanka;(2) Fossil 
fuel based energy sources used for industries, transport, 
and electricity generation are among the main culprits of 
global warming. In 2000, Sri Lanka?s overall energy mix 
included 58% from renewable sources (mainly hydropower, 
plus some biomass for household and industrial use) and the 
balance of 42% from fossil fuels.  In 2006 the share of 
renewable sources had fallen to 52%;(3) Despite the 
reduction in the renewable energy share, at present Sri 
Lanka is among the top 15 countries that produce a larger 
share of their electricity supply from renewables (Norway 
tops the list with 99%, followed by Brazil, Colombia and 
Iceland, all in the range of 80-90%);(4) Sri Lanka is 
likely to lose its place amongst the countries ranked with 
high use of renewables as projections indicate that 
increased use of thermal energy sources will make renewable 
energy only 22% of the total by 2015;(5) The Government of 
Sri Lanka is interested in pushing for increased use of 
renewables but the necessary directives and allocation of 
resources have not yet been undertaken;(6) Energy 
efficiency has a key role to play in reducing greenhouse 
gas emissions. 
 
 
 
 
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AS A VEHICLE FOR COMBATTING CLIMATE 
CHANGE 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶7. One of the main objectives of the Earth Day celebration 
was to highlight the role of energy efficiency in combating 
climate change and the fact that this option can be adopted 
and practiced by individuals and communities on a local and 
national scale.  The presentations highlighted numerous 
ways to save energy, drawing upon lessons from the past, 
technological innovations from the present, and a vision of 
the future. They presented the case for demonstrating 
greater social responsibility by adopting simple but 
effective lifestyle changes. 
 
¶9. At the end of the event, all participants were given a 
compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb as a token, but also 
as a means to encourage children to use it in their homes 
and encourage their parents and friends to switch from 
inefficient incandescent lights to more efficient and 
longer lasting CFLs that reduce the impact on climate 
change. 
 
CONCLUSION 
---------- 
¶10. Global climate change is now widely accepted as a 
pressing environmental issue in Sri Lanka. Colombo?s Earth 
Day event succeeded in enhancing awareness and exposing 
school children to the scientific facts; the economic, 
developmental, and social aspects of climate change; and 
the need for responsible use of energy in Sri Lanka and 
around the World. 
 
BLAKE