Oceans, Seas, River and Water bodies

At the heart of the campaign were the fishermen and residents of the Negombo lagoon region – people for whom the wetland is more than land or water; it’s the lifeblood of their daily existence.

In one part of the world, floods inundate entire cities. In another, droughts silently wither crops. Glaciers, which took centuries to form, are disappearing in decades. Groundwater, hidden and unseen, is being depleted faster than it can be replenished.

The ruling follows a lawsuit spearheaded by a coalition of fishermen and rights groups who sought justice for the environmental damage and the collapse of the fishing industry in the aftermath of the disaster.

The project aims to protect flood-prone communities from extreme weather by installing early warning systems, such as weather stations and river level monitors, and improving coordination among government departments so alerts reach people faster.

The pilot in Galle is seen as a potential blueprint for nationwide replication, with implications for addressing water inefficiencies throughout Sri Lanka. If successful, it could also serve as a model for other countries in the region facing similar challenges.

While tourists sip cocktails in overwater bungalows, some neighboring islands are literally running out of fresh water.

Staying close to 1.5°C on the other hand preserves at least some glacier ice in all regions, even Scandinavia, with 20-30 per cent remaining in the four most sensitive regions; and 40-45 per cent in the Himalayas and Caucuses; stressing the growing urgency of the 1.5°C temperature goal and rapid decarbonization to achieve it.

The massive profits coupled with a weak legal framework have drawn influential individuals with political connections into the sand mining business, making it dangerous for environmental activists and journalists to speak out.