Climate Action for our
Nation
and the Planet

7th  TO  9th  MAY 2024
AT  SHANGRI-LA  COLOMBO

Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2024

CODE RED

Climate Risks and Opportunities
for Sri Lankan Business

Sri Lanka stands at a critical juncture. The country is recovering from an unprecedented economic crisis given the levels of unsustainable debt, and is currently undertaking a program of economic reforms in agreement with the IMF. The crisis is a unique opportunity to build back better with the strong collective efforts of all including the private sector.

SRILANKA
CLIMATE
SUMMIT 2024

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ABOUT SLCS 2024

The Paris agreement’s aspirational target of holding the temperature increase to 1.5 ˚C compared to pre-industrial era, is considered no longer achievable with 2023 registering a 1.45 ˚C increase. The rate of increase of GHG concentration in the atmosphere has not declined, and it would require a global rapid mobilization of resources to stay within the absolute target 2 ˚C increase set by the Paris Agreement.

Sri Lanka is also highly impacted by the Climate Crisis. The scientific consensus – a resounding “Code Red” – warns of accelerating climate change with devastating consequences to human civilization, planetary biosphere and our economies. Left unaddressed, climate crisis will erode large amounts of global GDP and will impact businesses.

ABOUT SLCS 2024

The Paris agreement’s aspirational target of holding the temperature increase to 1.5 ˚C compared to pre-industrial era, is considered no longer achievable with 2023 registering a 1.45 ˚C increase. The rate of increase of GHG concentration in the atmosphere has not declined, and it would require a global rapid mobilization of resources to stay within the absolute target 2 ˚C increase set by the Paris Agreement.

Sri Lanka is also highly impacted by the Climate Crisis. The scientific consensus – a resounding “Code Red” – warns of accelerating climate change with devastating consequences to human civilization, planetary biosphere and our economies. Left unaddressed, climate crisis will erode large amounts of global GDP and will impact businesses.

SRILANKA
CLIMATE
SUMMIT 2024

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

THEME OF THE SRI LANKA
CLIMATE SUMMIT 2024

The Climate Summit is aimed at developing a deeper understanding of various aspects of the
climate crisis from a global and a Sri Lankan perspective, highlighting the potential disruptions to key economic sectors.

Day 1:May 07

Session 1: CEOs Session (By invitation only)

Understanding Climate Science,
Risks and Opportunities

This invitation only session brings together the country’s leading CEOs and business owners to deepen their understanding on current scientific consensus in climate science, risks and opportunities it presents to business, and actions required to mitigate risks and successfully achieve growth opportunities. The session is both informative and discussion based, and aims to set the path for Sri Lankan businesses to integrate climate action into their business decisions, which will be discussed in greater depth and breadth at the conference.

 

Presentations: :

(1) Role of Business in a Planet Threatened by Climate Crisis.
(2) Introduction to Climate Crisis.
(3) Implications for Business in Risks and Opportunities.
(4) Opportunities for Green Growth in Sri Lanka.
(5) Making Net Zero Possible and Financially Viable.
(6) Mobilising Funding for Green Growth.
(7) Panel Discussion.

 

Opening Ceremony

Climate change is a pressing global issue that demands urgent attention from businesses, governments, and societies worldwide. As temperatures rise and weather patterns become increasingly erratic, it’s crucial for organisations to grasp the distinction between climate and weather and recognize the scientific consensus on human-induced climate change. This session is a high-level introduction to some of the themes of the summit and sets the stage for day two, with an opening statement by the President of Sri Lanka and a discussion with local and global specialists.

 

Presentations:

(1) Sri Lanka Business and Climate action.
(2) Integrating Climate Action into Business.
(3) Global Climate Science & Impacts
(4) Implications for Businesses – Risks and Opportunities.
(5) Climate Change and Sri Lanka (15, 50, 100 years from now).
(6) Current Climate Policy context and Vision for Sri Lanka’s Green & Just Economic Transition.
(7) Panel Discussion: Creating a multi-stakeholder ecosystem or climate led growth.

Day 2: May 08

0900 – 1030 hrs

Session 01: Climate Crisis: Global & Local Impact

Climate Crisis: Global & Local Impact

This session introduces the climate crisis first from a global standpoint exploring the causes and the global impacts from a scientific perspective. It will also explore the possible climate futures that are modelled, what needs to be done to achieve each and the implications of these choices. The session will then focus on the specific impacts faced by Sri Lanka at present and expected in the future, looking at climatic, biodiversity/ecology, communities and infrastructure.

 

Presentations:

(1) Understanding the Climate Crisis and its Impacts on a Global Scale.

(2) Exploring the Impacts of the Climate Crisis and understanding Sri Lanka’s positionality.

(3) Unveiling Local Impacts of the Climate Crisis – Implications for the Nation, Communities and Ecology.

(4) Panel Discussion: Climate impacts to communities, ecology and human settlements.

1030 - 1200 hrs

Risk to Business in a Changing Climate

This session explores the potential risks for business – first from a hydroclimatic perspective, analysing the risks, vulnerability and exposure. Risks and vulnerability of Sri Lanka is also explored based on local studies. Subsequently, the session examines how climate action is shaping the global business environment, looking at implications to trade, tariffs, regulations and fund flows. Special emphasis is placed on the rapidly evolving regulatory frameworks in the EU and the US evolving and how it will shape the global business landscape, and implications for companies doing business with the EU.

Presentations:

(1) Overview on Assessing Climate-Related Risks/ Assessing Vulnerability and Exposure.

(2) Changing Business environment - how climate crisis is shaping the global business Environment (regulation/tariff, investments, trade).

(3) Case studies: Changing Business environment - how climate crisis is shaping the European business enviroment (regulation/tariff, investments, trade).

(4) Risks and Vulnerabilty - Sri Lankan context.

(5) Panel Discussion: Turning Risks into Business Opportunities.

0100 - 0230 hrs

Climate Resillence & Adaptation

Climate resilience and adaptation is crucial to Sri Lanka which is highly vulnerable to climate change with low community resilience. The session introduces climate resilience and adaptation, looking at the country’s need and regional best practices on resilience. The session then examines the national adaptation policy and adaptation plan and how it is evolving to meet the needs of the future. Finally, it explores how to integrate resilience and adaptation into the business context and examples of grassroot resilience and adaptation strategies.

Presentations:

(1) Building Climate Resilience from the Ground Up.

(2) National Adaptation Policy Evolution in Sri Lanka.

(3) Integrating Resilience into Business and Policy.

(4) Grassroot Resilience Building: Lessons Learned and Tips for Success.

(5) Panel: Challenges and Opportunities in Implementing.

(6) Climate Resilience.

0230 - 0400 hrs

Decarbonisation

Decarbonisation, the process of reducing or eliminating carbon dioxide emissions from human activities, is a critical component of climate action and presents significant business opportunities. Advancements in technology, costs and materials have opened up capabilities for a rapid energy transition to shift to net-zero energy futures, particularly advantageous for a country like Sri Lanka rich with renewable energy sources. The session begins with an exploration of global energy transition touching on electricity, transportation, industrial and domestic energy needs. The session will also examine the role of buildings within this transition. Lastly, it will tackle the policy frameworks needed for energy transition, along with an overview of the current approach adopted by Sri Lanka

Presentations:

(1) Energy Transition Pathways and Technologies - Electricity, Transportation, Buildings and Thermal.

(2)Buildings - a case study of decarbonisation, climate resilience and adaptation.

(3)Policy Frameworks and Incentives for Decarbonization

(4)Panel Discussion: Decarbonisation Opportunities for Sri Lanka across Sectors

0400 - 0530 hrs

BR 01 Climate justice & Equity

Climate crisis is expected to further worsen global inequalities – both at nation state level as well as within the nation state. The current climate crisis is driven by historical emissions of the global North, while the much poorer countries in the global South bear a larger brunt of it while not contributing to the problem. The session explores the concepts on climate justice and equity, and the current and emerging challenges and opportunities at a global level including the concept of Loss and Damage.

Presentations:

(1) Keynote Speech: Global Systemic Inequities and the Need for Climate Justice and Equity.

(2) Empowering Communities: Community-Driven Approaches to Climate Justice.

(3) Panel Discussion: Role of Climate Justice and Equity in Climate Conversations.

0400 - 0530 hrs

BR 02 Climate Financing

Climate action requires significant investment by the state as well as the corporate sector. There is keen interest in sustainable finance, including climate finance, in Sri Lanka. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), has led with several regulatory initiatives in creating the ecosystem for sustainable finance. The session will explore the climate financing landscape, and then look at the specific instruments that are available for the businesses for climate action, with a focus on Asia and global contexts

Presentations:

(1) Overview of the Climate Financing Landscape.

(2) Leveraging Financial Instruments for Climate Action as Business Leaders.

(3) Beyond Debt : The funding decarbonisation with innovative instruments in the fashion industry.

(4) Impact investing for adaptation and resilience in emerging markets in Asia.

(5) Panel Discussion: Climate Finance as Mechanism to Drive Innovation and Impact.

Day 3: May 09

0900 – 1000 hrs

Session 01: Policy and Climate Action

Policy and Climate Action

Enabling policy frameworks are crucial for effective climate action for both state and private sectors. The session will first explore the National climate action policy, strategic plans and action followed by the regional best practices in policy frameworks, and explore the role the business community can/should play in shaping policy to support climate action.

 

Presentations:

(1) National Climate Action Policy, Strategic Plans and Action.

(2) A Review of Global Climate Action Policy.

(3) Private Sector Engagement in Climate Action Policy.

(4) Panel Discussion: Review of Current National Policy Landscape.

1000 - 0300 hrs

Developing Sri Lanka as a Center of Excellence for Climate Action

Sector/Industry sessions are designed to take a more intimate approach to climate action that are unique to the specific industry. The initial presentations will provide global and local context, and then move into panel and roundtable discussions to set the stage to create local strategic plans that can be executed by the businesses with the support of government and other stakeholders.

0300 - 0400 hrs

Commitments and Next Steps

The closing plenary serves as the culmination of the discussions, offering an
opportunity to recap the key insights and takeaways that have emerged. This
session aims to bring together the pre event insight gained through the public
interaction interphase, and the deliberations through the conference into a
Climate Action Plan, that is implementable. The session will also include

Presentations:

(1) Present Elements of a Roadmap for Sri Lanka’s Green & Just Economic Transition

WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE SOME
OF THE CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe

President of Sri Lanka

Duminda Hulangamuwa

Chairman
The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce

David Rogers, Ph.D.

Hydromet Advisor
Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR),
World Bank

Dhruba Purkayastha

India Director
for Climate Policy Initiative

Frank Rijsberman

Director
Global Green Growth Institute

Lakmal Fernando

Chairman
Power & Energy Council NCCSL

Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne

Wildlife
Author & Photographer

Jean Marc Champagne

Managing Director
Seneca Impact Advisors

Joost Bilkes

Managing Partner
of Double Delta

Priyantha Wijethunga

Senior Director
Energy, Asia Development Bank, Manila.

Uchita de Zoysa

Chairman
Global Sustainability Solutions (GLOSS)/ Executive Director - Centre for Environment & Development (CED)

Revan Philip Wickramasuriya

Chief Operating Officer
Colombo Port City Economic Commission

Rohan Pethiyagoda

Public
Policy Advocate and Biodiversity Scientist

Arunabha Ghosh

Founder-CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water

Vinod Malwatte

Executive Director of the Lanka Environment Fund, Co-Founder of The Parrotfish Collective and Trustee of the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO)

Thilan Wijesinghe

CEO/MD of Forbes & Walker

Rohinton Emmanuel

Professor in Sustainable Design and Construction
Glasgow Caledonia University

E Nand Gopal

Director – Climate & Energy Grant Thornton Bharath LLP

Sulakshana Jayawardena

Secretary - Ministry of Power & Energy (Sri Lanka)

Romesh David

CEO - South Asia Gateway Terminals, Sri Lanka’

Ravi Fernando

Board Director at Dilmah Ceylon Tea, LOLC, Melstacorp, Aitken Spence Plantations & Aitken Spence Hotels

Aban Marker Kabraji

Senior Advisor
Climate Change and Biodiversity
UNDCO

Mark Smith

Director
General of the International Water Management Institute

Lareef Zubair

Climate and Adaptation Scientist

Chanaka Wickramasuriya

Chief of Party for the USAID Sri Lanka Energy Program

Chitral J.

Avid Nature Lover and Photographer

Sonali Senaratna Sellamuttu

Country Representative Sri Lanka, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

Yvonne Zhang

Internal Sustainability Subject Matter Expert in Deloitte SEA

Kusum Athukorala

Regional Chair Global Water Partnership South Asia

Nalin Karunatileka

Vice President – Sustainability & Consulting at DFCC Bank PLC

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I register for the Summit?

Click on the “Register Now” button. This action will take you to the Registration Form.

Fill in the required participant information, including:

  • Organization Name
  • Title
  • Participant’s Name
  • Designation
  • Contact Details
  • Email Address
  • Mobile Number

Cost of participation is given below :

  • CCC Members – LKR 35,000 – including tax
  • Non-Members – LKR 40,000 – including tax

To add multiple participants from your company, please follow these steps:

Click on the “Add Participants” button to include their contact details. Please provide unique Mobile Numbers and Email addresses for each participant, as the registration platform identifies participants by their Mobile Numbers. Note that the same Mobile Number cannot be used for more than one participant.

What do I need to attend the Summit?

In person participants needs to produce the QR Code saved on your mobile phone, i-Pad or a printed copy at the Entrance to the Summit Venue.

How can I ask a Question at the Summit?

Instructions for submitting questions on Day 2 of the Summit will be provided later.

Who do I contact for Questions?

We are glad to assist you, if you need any further clarifications. Please forward us with an E-mail – events@chamber.lk or call us on 011 5588852 or 011 5588882 

Unprecedented warming triggers species loss, ecological collapse, and economic chaos.
The Paris Agreement’s 1.5C limit is obsolete. This isn’t a distant threat-it’s our urgent reality.

011 558 8852 / 011 558 8882

© 2024 Climate Summit All Rights Reserved. Solution by Lankacom

Nalin Karunatileka

Mr. Nalin Karunatileka, Vice President – Sustainability & Consulting at DFCC Bank PLC, is a 30-year veteran of the bank with extensive experience in climate finance and Investment Banking.

Mr. Karunatileka currently heads the Sustainability function at DFCC Bank. He was involved from the inception in the bank’s successful quest to become an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund - the world’s largest fund for the climate action.

Previously, he was a Project Director of the World Bank and Global Environment Facility funded ‘Renewable Energy for Rural Economic Development ‘(RERED) Project. This project, along with the preceding ‘Energy Services Delivery (ESD) Project’ were instrumental in financing and catalyzing a vibrant private sector renewable energy industry in Sri Lanka involving small hydro, wind, solar and bio-mass.

 

  

Kusum Athukorala

Crossing disciplinary and academic boundaries from 12 years previous experience as a university teacher in languages and cultural studies to development studies, primarily water resources management, Kusum Athukorala holds a M.Sc in Managing Rural Change, Imperial College, University of London. As multidisciplinary skilled development professional, recognized for her contribution to rural development, IWRM, gender and water; she is the recipient of the International Water Association’s International Women in Water Award and the Zonta Woman of Achievement for Environment.

She has held a series of responsible positions in national, regional and international boards such as the Global Water Partnership, Saci WATERS, Women for Water Partnership and NetWwater .

 

  

Yvonne Zhang

Yvonne is an internal sustainability subject matter expert in Deloitte SEA, she leads strategic pursuits to help our clients attain their sustainability goals and supports the WorldClimate agenda that drives Deloitte’s transition to Net Zero.

She had led the Deloitte Risk Advisory sustainability SEA regional team, legally trained with experience in project finance, commodities trading and fintech, Yvonne built a 18-year career in working with corporates, regulators, exchanges, financial institutions and civil society to unlock value in doing business sustainably. She is uniquely skilled in assisting clients in supply chain traceability, carbon markets, sustainable and transition financing, impact investments, and digital asset development.

Yvonne is a regular contributor to international standards in sustainability impact reporting, trade digitalisation and DLT interoperability, she an occasional lecturer and lifelong space technology enthusiast.

Yvonne holds double degrees in Law and Commerce from the University of Sydney. She is the deputy chair of ISO/TC 307(Blockchain) for Singapore, an expert contributor to standards making in sustainability reporting (GRI agriculture & fishing sector standards), cross-border terms of trade (International Chamber of Commerce Digital Standards Initiative) and a teaching fellow at Singapore University of Social Sciences.

 

  

Sonali Senaratna Sellamuttu

Dr. Sonali Senaratna Sellamuttu has a PhD from Imperial College London, UK, and is a British Chevening Scholar. Her area of expertise is natural resource management and she served as the Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Asia-Pacific Regional Assessment. At GGGI, Sonali she leads a national initiative on climate change adaptation, that supports the Sri Lankan Government with their National Adaptation Plan. Prior to joining GGGI, Sonali was at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and was part of their leadership team, serving as the IWMI Regional Representative for Southeast Asia, and based in Laos and Myanmar. At IWMI Sonali led several interdisciplinary R4D projects in Southeast, East Asia, South Asia, and Africa. Before IWMI, Sonali worked for IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), in both Sri Lanka and USA.

 

  

Chitral J.

Chitral is an avid nature lover and photographer from his formative years. Chitral won his first award in photography from Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, aged just 17.

in 2003, following a joint exhibition with Dr.Ravi Samarasinhe, Chitral published "Wilds of Lanka" a photographic guide to Yala National Park.

He then focused on Sri Lanka's Bio-Diversity in his 2nd publication "Moments of Truth in the wilderness" launched in 2009 and a third jointly with Vimukthi Weeratunge named ‘Living Free’ published in 2017.

Chitral works for John Keells Hotels Group developing Sustainable Wildlife Tourism and Eco resorts in the conglomerates Leisure division. His passion to showcase Wild Sri Lanka has attracted top productions such as Blue Planet II, Planet earth III and Wild Islands to film in Sri Lanka.

As a Vice President of John Keells Group, he heads a dedicated team of field naturalists at Keells creating nature related adventures. His passion for sustainable tourism has been recognized by several PATA Gold awards and four John Keell’s Chairmen’s Awards.

 

  

Chanaka Wickramasuriya

Chanaka Wickramasuriya is the Chief of Party for the USAID Sri Lanka Energy Program, a 5 year technical assistance program on Energy Transition that works with stakeholders in the electricity sectors in both the government and private sectors. He has a long history in Private Equity spanning over 15 years, investing and managing portfolios in Sri Lanka as Joint Managing partner at Ironwood Capital and Partner at Aureos Capital LLC. Chanaka was also Country Head of Fitch Ratings Sri Lanka. He serves on several Boards including Nations Trust Bank, Global Rubber Industries Pvt Ltd and is Chair of the Lynear Unit Trust Investment Committee. He has a BSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering (summa cum laude) from Rutgers College of Engineering USA and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

 

  

Lareef Zubair

Lareef Zubair is a climate and adaptation scientist, engineer and thought-leader with 25 year history of R&D in USA, Indian Ocean islands and Africa. He schooled at Trinity Kandy, ranked first in engineering, research and all round skills at Engineering at Peradeniya and completed his masters and doctoral degrees at Yale University. Over the last 25 years, he has led research at Yale University, the University of Peradeniya, the  International Research Institute for Climate Prediction / Society  and Water Center at Columbia University. Two decades ago, he founded the Foundation for Environment, Climate and Technology dedicated to the application of state of the art science to address societal needs and ecological sustenance. 

 

  

Mark Smith

Mark Smith is Director General of the International Water Management Institute. He was formerly IWMI’s Deputy Director General – Research for Development, and brings more than 25 years of research and program management experience in water resources, agriculture, climate and sustainability. He was Director of the Global Water Program at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), from 2008-2018, where he led innovative, multi-regional programs in Asia, Africa and Latin America addressing river basin management, transboundary cooperation and water governance, climate change adaptation and nature-based solutions.

He has a PhD in ecology and resource management from the University of Edinburgh and a Master’s in climatology from the University of Guelph.

 

  

Aban Marker Kabraji 

Senior Advisor Climate Change and Biodiversity

UNDCO

Ms. Aban Marker Kabraji is a biologist and currently serves as Senior Advisor Climate Change and Biodiversity, UN Development Coordination Office for Asia-Pacific. Ms. Kabraji is also Senior Biodiversity Consultant to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. She was the Regional Director for IUCN Asia-Oceania regional office from 2002 to 2021. This involved overseeing and maintaining a diverse portfolio in 30 countries in the region and driving strategic direction of 300 organizations, governments, international and national NGOs, and indigenous groups as members of the Union in more than 70 wide-ranging environmental initiatives. With more than 40 years of global and cross-boundary experience, her leadership has been instrumental in bringing awareness to vital development and conservation issues such as gender, culture, and sovereignty. Ms. Kabraji also has experience in conflict resolution related to environmental security, protected areas, and transboundary programmes, which involved various stakeholders and constituencies.

 

Dr. Ravi Fernando

Dr Ravi FERNANDO is an Alumni of the University of Cambridge having completed both a Post Graduate Certificate in Sustainable business in 2008 and Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership in 2014. He completed the Advanced Management Program at the INSEAD Business School (France) and is an Executive in Residence since 2010.

His career with Multinationals spanned 1981-2003 with Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser, Smithkline Beecham International, MAS covering Africa, Middle East and Asia.

He serves on the Boards of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, Aitken Spence Plantations Ltd, Aitken Spence Hotels Ltd, Melstacorp PLC, UN Global Compact, LOLC Holdings, Ceylon Graphene Technologies Ltd.

 

  

Romesh David

Romesh is CEO of South Asia Gateway Terminals, Sri Lanka’s first public private partnership (PPP) project in the ports sector, by a consortium led by John Keells Holdings (JKH) and including the A P Moller/Maersk Group, Evergreen of Taiwan and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. He was previously with JKH, where he had overall responsibility for all businesses in the Transportation Group which included ports, bunkering, shipping, logistics, freight forwarding, airline, aviation services and travel sectors. During his tenure with JKH, he also led businesses in the IT and IT Enabled Services (BPO), International and Domestic Trading sectors.

A Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport and a past International VP of the Institute, he also served as a Global Advisor to WiLAT (Women in Logistics & Transport) until 2023. He is Immediate Past President of the Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce, former Chair of the National Agenda Committee on Transport & Logistics of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and was a founding member of the IFC’s Women-in-Work, High-Level Advocacy Group in Sri Lanka.

 

  

Dr.Sulakshana Jayawardena

Dr. Sulakshana Jayawardena, Secretary, Ministry of Power & Energy is equuped with professional experinace over 18 years of Government Sector as Sri Lanka Administrative Service Officer. Experienced with all stages of the development cycle for dynamic government projects especially in the power sector. Well-versed in numerus Sectors such as Power, Human Resouces, Development and Administration. Strong background in project management and customer relations. Bringing forth an excellent work ethic and a dedication to honesty and intergrity.

He is having more than 20 years experiance in the power & energy sector, including the experinces in Renewable Energy Development, Energy Efficiancy Improvement, Rural Electrification, Policy Fomulation so & soforth.

He is having Doctor of Philosphy Degree and he holds Master’s in Business Studies from the University of Colombo and a Bachelar’s Degee in Science from the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He is also holds Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology, Diploma in Information Technology and a Diploma in Professional Diplomacy and World Affiars.

 

  

E Nand Gopal

Nand Gopal is a seasoned climate change professional. His areas of expertise include developing and implementing climate change mitigation strategies, supporting governments in creating enabling ecosystem through conducive policies, regulations and schemes,supporting donor backed line of credits for climate change and building capacities of private sector on evaluating climate risks and implementing mitigation action plan.

Policy related projects led by Nand: Developed National Energy Efficiency Policy for Cambodia, Drafted Green Industry Policy for Lao PDR, Supported team in developing Carbon Credit Trading Scheme in India, Power to Health Master Plan for Malawi.

Nand led GHG inventory, carbon mitigation strategy, long term net zero roadmap and SBTi target setting for various clients including Vedanta, Tata Chemical, Tata Communications, Piramal Pharma, Coca Cola and many medium tier textile firms.

Nand holds a Masters in Renewable Energy Engineering and Energy Management. He is ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems and ISO 14064 Greenhouse Gases Implementor and lead auditor.

 

  

Prof. Rohinton Emmanuel

Rohinton Emmanuel is Professor of Sustainable Design and Director, Research Centre for Built Environment Asset Management (BEAM) at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. He pioneered urban heat island studies in Sri Lanka and is an expert in climate and environment sensitive design and urban sustainability. Rohinton was the Secretary of the largest group of urban climate researchers, the International Association for Urban Climate and was a member of the Expert Team on Urban and Building Climatology of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). He currently leads an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme on Urban Climate and Sustainability (www.murcs.eu) that has trained several urban climate specialists around the world.

 

  

Thilan Wijesinghe

Thilan Wijesinghe, a graduate from State University of New York and Cornell University, commenced his career as Senior Consultant at PWC and later as Head of Planning, Sampath Bank PLC. Subsequent to achieving success as an investment banker in the early 1990s, in 1995, He assumed the Chairmanship of the BOI, where he pioneered PPPs transactions.

Thilan has served as CEO/MD of Forbes & Walker, Overseas Realty and Asian Hotels Properties and in 2017 became the founding Chairman of National Agency for Public Private Partnership.

Today Thilan leads TWC, an investment bank he founded in 2012. TWC engages in corporate finance and PPP advisory, with experience working in Maldives, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Thilan has also co-founded pioneering businesses including Ceylon Tea Trails and SLIIT.

 

  

Vinod Malwatte 

As a conservationist, Vinod is interested in the convergence of conservation and responsible development. His primary interests lie in the management of mixed-use landscapes that border the Protected Area network and how local communities, that act as custodians of these lands, can be incorporated into conservation interventions. Vinod is the Executive Director of the Lanka Environment Fund, Co-Founder of The Parrotfish Collective and a Trustee of the Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO).

 

  

Dr Arunabha Ghosh 

Dr Arunabha Ghosh is a public policy expert, author, columnist, and institution builder. He is the founder-CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water. He advises the governments, industry, civil society, and international organisations globally.

He served on Government of India’s G20 Finance Track Advisory Group and advised the Sherpa Track for India’s G20 Presidency in 2022-23. He is currently Vice-Chair of the UN Committee for Development Policy. He also serves as the Co-Convenor and Commissioner of Our Common Air, a global initiative to accelerate air quality action. In 2022, the UNSG appointed him to the High-level Expert Group on the Credibility and Accountability of Net-Zero Announcements by Non-State Actors. In the same year, the Asia Society honoured him with the 2022 Asia Game Changer Award.

He is a member of the WEF Global Future Council on Clean Air, was previously a member of WEF Global Future Council on Energy and WEF Young Global Leader. He is also a member of several international expert advisory groups: Global Commission on the Economics of Water; High-Level Group of Economists, constituted by the French president for the One Planet Lab; and the High-Level Consultative Group for the U.S. Department of State’s Energy Transition Accelerator.

He is a co-author/editor of four books and with experience in 48 countries. He previously worked at Princeton, Oxford, UNDP (New York), and WTO (Geneva) and holds a D.Phil. from Oxford.

 

  

Lakmal Fernando  

Lakmal is a renewable energy activist, entrepreneur, and businessman. His areas of interest include Renewable Energy SDG adaptation in Sri Lanka and poverty elevation in the Sri Lankan rural community. He has been actively lobbying to protect and improve the renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka, bring in new legislation and is a strong promoter of Renewable Energy Exportation to improve the country’s economy.

He is the co-founder and Managing Director/CEO of Regen Renewables (Pvt) Ltd, one of the largest Solar PV Companies in the country and SRT Energy (Pvt) Ltd a Renewable Energy Development Company.

He also currently holds the following positions on honorary basis. Honorary Secretary- National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka Chairman-Renewable Energy Council/National Chamber of Sri Lanka Member-National Energy Committee/ Ceylon Chamber of Commerce He also held the following positions on honorary basis in the past.

 

  

Dr Priyantha D.C. Wijayatunga  

Senior Director, Energy, Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Priyantha has over 35 years of professional experience including 16 years in ADB. He was the Director, South Asia Energy Division and Chief of Energy Sector Group prior to assuming the current position.  Before joining ADB, he served as the founder Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, a Senior Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Moratuwa and its founder Dean, of the Faculty of Information Technology.  He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Ceylon Electricity Board and Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority and Advisory Board, Melbourne Energy Institute.  He has extensively contributed in the areas of energy policy and regulation, energy planning and clean energy development.

Priyantha, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka, holds a Doctorate in Power Systems Economics from the Imperial College London on Beit Scientific Research Fellowship. He served as an Academic Visitor at Imperial College and Chairman, South Asia Forum for Infrastructure Regulators. He is a Chartered Electrical Engineer, a Member of IET and Senior Member of IEEE. He is a Past President of SLEMA.

 

  

Joost Bilkes  

Joost is the Managing Partner of Double Delta. After 17 years at Credit Suisse, Joost has successfully spun-off the Credit Suisse’s impact advisory services business, which advises the bank's Asia Impact Investment Fund series. The activities have been transferred to a new firm in Singapore, called Double Delta.  

Previously, as the Head of Impact Advisory Services at Credit Suisse he was responsible for the bank’s Impact Advisory Services as well as business development of impact investment initiatives in Asia. In 2015, Joost's team launched the first institutional grade Asia Impact Investment Private Equity Fund, a solution drawing the poor in Asia into supply chains in meaningful ways through investments in profitable private sector solutions. His team raised a second Fund in 2021, attracting institutional (e.g. IFC) as well as UHNW investors. 
 
In his previous role as Head of Sustainability Strategy, Advisory and Finance (SSAF) APAC at Credit Suisse, he developed the regional sustainability strategy for Credit Suisse APAC and supported the development and implementation of the CS Sustainable Investment and Sustainable Activities Frameworks. He represented the Bank in a variety of sustainability-linked working groups and taskforces together with industry leaders and regulators. Before that, he held the role of regional and product head of investment fund solutions in Asia. 
 
Prior to joining Credit Suisse in 2006, Joost worked as an analyst and project manager for UBS Investment Bank and Westpac in Australia and ABN AMRO Private Bank in the United Kingdom. Joost holds an MBA from the Vrije University of Amsterdam and completed post-graduate programs at the University of Stellenbosch, Oxford Saïd Business School and University of Cambridge. Joost is conducting guest lectures on Impact Investing for MBA and EMBA students at INSEAD, St. Gallen University, Wharton, ESSEC, NUS and CBS. 
(https://publishing.insead.edu/case/credit-suisse) 

 

  

Uchita de Zoysa

Uchita de Zoysa is a thinker, author, strategist and facilitator for the climate sustainability transformation since the 1992 UN Earth Summit. In 2016 and 2017 he was the Chief Negotiator for the UN SDG Process and the first Ministerial Advisor on Sustainable Development to GoSL. He heads Global Sustainability Solutions and the Centre for Environment and Development and is the Chief Architect of the Sri Lanka Stakeholder SDG Platform, SDG Transformation Lab, and ‘ESG4sustainability’. He has Authored many books and publications including ‘It Has to be Climate Sustainability’, ‘A Domestic Resource Mobilization Framework for SDGs’, ‘Voluntary Peoples Review on the SDGs’. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uchita-de-zoysa-99933710/  

 

  

Rohan Pethiyagoda 

Rohan Pethiyagoda, a public-policy advocate and biodiversity scientist, is the author of more than a hundred books and scientific papers on the fauna and flora of Sri Lanka. The Wildlife Heritage Trust, a foundation he endowed, discovered some 150 species new to science. He has served as Environment Advisor to the government of Sri Lanka, as Chairman of the Water Resources Board and Tea Boad, Deputy Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, and continues to be a Research Associate of the Australian Museum, in Sydney. He is a recipient of the Linnean Medal and the Rolex Award for Enterprise. 

  

Revan Philip Wickramasuriya 

Revan’s core competency lies in the intricate realm of risk management within financial markets, excelling in comprehending and crafting innovative solutions for handling a wide array of risks, particularly those associated with foreign exchange fluctuations, interest rates, commodity prices, and credit risk. Throughout his professional journey, while living and working in South Asia, Middle East, Africa and Australia he collaborated in structuring bespoke financing and risk management solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises, multinational corporations representing diverse industries and financial institutions , all based in developing markets. This journey has also resulted in him working closely with government institutions such as Central Banks and Debt Management Offices, and multilateral development financial institutions that required solutions in financing, managing interest rates, commodity and currency exchange rate risks. 

  

Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne 

Gehan has played a pivotal role in branding Sri Lanka as a wildlife destination. In the words of British wildlife presenter Bill Oddie, no single individual has done so much to raise the profile of a country for its wildlife. Gehan’s efforts have made him a wildlife celebrity in Sri Lanka. 

  

He is amongst a handful of field naturalists in the world who have written and photographed field guides spanning terrestrial mammals, marine mammals, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, wild flowers and trees. He has been published by international publishers including Bloomsbury, Bradt, John Beaufoy and New Holand. He has written and photographed over 25 books and over 400 articles. 

He has been the Chair of the London Bird Club for eight years and is also a Trustee of the British Ornithologists’ Club.  

Dr. Frank Rijsberman 

Dr. Frank Rijsberman leads the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in supporting governments transition towards a model of economic growth that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. With over 30 years’ experience addressing the challenges of environmental sustainability and poverty reduction with leading international organizations and philanthropic foundations, Dr. Rijsberman was initially appointed as the Director-General of the Institute, on October 1, 2016 and re-appointed for a second term starting October 1, 2020. 

Dhruba Purkayastha 

Dhruba Purkayastha is the India Director for Climate Policy Initiative, a global non-profit research and advisory institution, working on Green Finance, Climate Finance, Adaptation Finance and Energy Transition. Climate Policy Initiative is engaged with several advisory, research and convening initiatives in energy transition, transition finance, and green finance in India. As part of the US-India Clean Energy Initiative between US and Indian governments in 2016, Dhruba set up and led the US-India Clean Energy Finance Facility (USICEF). Recently, he has also set up the Center for Sustainable Finance (CSF) in India to mainstream sustainability and sustainable finance in academic courses so that future generations are better equipped with underlying concepts of sustainability.  

Dhruba has over 30 years of experience in credit rating, management consulting, investment banking, engineering industries and international development financing. As an ex-World Bank Group and International Finance Corporation staff member, Dhruba has worked in private and financial sector development, infrastructure and clean energy financing, public-private partnerships, banking & capital market reforms and technical assistance in improving the investment climate in India. Earlier Dhruba worked with Moody’s ICRA Limited, a credit rating agency for its Advisory and Consulting business in Public Policy with a focus on Infrastructure and Energy sectors. He has been a significant contributor to India’s Infrastructure Public Private Partnerships (PPP) initiatives working with the erstwhile Planning Commission, now known as Niti Aayog, Ministry of Finance, Government of India where he was responsible for setting up India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) in 2007. He subsequently engaged with IIFCL through World Bank lending to recreate Infrastructure Project Financing in India. Dhruba contributed to the development of several policy and regulatory initiatives for infrastructure project financing in India such as Infrastructure Finance NBFCs, Expected Loss based Credit Ratings for Infrastructure Projects and Investment Trusts (InVITs) in India.  

Dhruba contributes regularly to climate financing discussions and platforms/convenings in India and globally. Domestic and international media often quote him and has several referred journal publications in his name which includes India’s Green Growth Imperative in The Project Syndicate and is a contributor to the Handbook of Green Finance, Jeff Sachs Springer. 

His research areas and interests are in financing infrastructure and clean energy, corporate sustainability, and climate finance.   

Dhruba has been recently appointed as the Chairperson of the Transition Finance Committee at the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and a member of the CII Net Zero Council for India. He has led the Regulatory Group for Sustainable Finance Task Force set up by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. He has actively contributed to the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group agenda and forums. 

Dhruba teaches Sustainability and Sustainable/Climate/Adaptation Finance at business schools in India and is a visiting faculty at IIM Calcutta.  

Dhruba is an Engineering graduate from Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Ranchi, and a postgraduate in Management from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta and earned a PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi in Financing Infrastructure and Clean Energy Investments through Bond markets in Developing countries. 

David Rogers, Ph.D. 

Dr Rogers’ career in meteorology and oceanography spans more than four decades. He has authored over 100 papers and books on meteorology, oceanography and related fields, including marine atmospheric boundary layer processes, cloud physics, numerical model parameterization, disaster management, hydrometeorological development and policy.

He has held numerous senior appointments including Chief Executive of the UK Met Office, Vice President of Science Applications International Corporation, Director of the Office of Weather and Air Quality Research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Director of Physical Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Associate Director of the California Space Institute and President of the Health and Climate Foundation, which he co-founded. He is currently a senior advisor to the World Bank and Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction on weather, climate and hydrological issues. 

Dr Rogers has a Ph.D. (1983) from the University of Southampton and Bachelor of Science degree (1980) from the University of East Anglia, UK.   

Bio for Jean-Marc Champagne 

Principal and Managing Director, Seneca Impact Advisors 

Jean-Marc, the Managing Director of Seneca Impact Advisors, is at the helm of a specialized advisory firm that develops innovative financial solutions to scale commercially viable nature and climate positive projects. Seneca’s mission is to mobilize private-sector capital for the protection and restoration of nature. 

Before founding Seneca, Jean-Marc dedicated 7 years to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). In his capacity as the head of Bankable Nature Solutions for the Asia-Pacific region, he nurtured and expanded scalable bankable projects with positive environmental and social impact. His responsibilities included overseeing project initiatives in the region, including those supported by the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development, as well as leading finance and bankable projects within WWF’s global Freshwater Practice. Jean-Marc was also instrumental in co-establishing the Climate Impact Asia Fund, a long-only equity fund, and currently serves on its investment advisory committee.  

Jean-Marc’s earlier career spanned 17 years in the financial industry, where he advised institutional investors on equities and equity derivatives. His investment banking journey commenced in 1997 with Merrill Lynch in New York. Since 2004, he has been based in Hong Kong, with significant time spent in Tokyo and Singapore, working with institutions such as BNP Paribas and Jefferies.  

He graduated from from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. Jean-Marc’s commitment to sustainable finance and environmental impact underscores his influential role in shaping positive change.