Meeting Information
This event was hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka and the GEF/UNEP International Nitrogen Management System (INMS), in partnership with the UKRI GCRF South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH), the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) and the British High Commission Colombo. It was a hybrid event hosted in Glasgow, UK and online.
The "Rediscovering Nitrogen" side-event at COP26 discussed how action on nitrogen is a necessary next step to help meet climate goals with multiple co-benefits for environment, health and economy. High-level statements from H.E. the President of Sri Lanka, UK government, the Commonwealth Secretariat and others discussed options for action ahead of COP26. The event launched the #Nitrogen4NetZero proposal for COP26 brought forward by the Government of Sri Lanka in partnership with the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), reflecting work with its member countries through 2021. The event theme reflects the upcoming 250-year anniversary of the scientific discovery of nitrogen in Scotland. It offers a key moment now to 'rediscover nitrogen' for climate and environmental action.
Read more here.
View the event photo gallery here.
Read more about #Nitrogen4NetZero.
Event Proceedings
00:00 - Introductory remarks: Rediscovering Nitrogen - Prof. Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Scientific Advisor for Scotland and Scientific Director of Moredun Research Institute
05:15 - Welcome Address - Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Environment, Sri Lanka
09:28 - Why Nitrogen and Climate? - Prof. Mark Sutton, Director of the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) and the South Asian Nitrogen Hub (SANH)
13:42 - #Nitrogen4NetZero video https://youtu.be/W6n0MqW5JfY
16:02 - UN Actions on Sustainable nitrogen management - Partnerships and Inter-convention Nitrogen Coordination Mechanism (INCOM) - H.E. Inger Anderson, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
20:41 - Keynote remarks by H. E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s Progressive Ambitions for Nitrogen and Climate: opportunities for cooperation
30:15 - How can nitrogen action accelerate our commitments Net Zero and sustainable development - Ken O'Flaherty, UK COP26 Regional Ambassador to Asia-Pacific and South Asia
34:26 - Mobilizing the Berlin Declaration on Sustainable Nitrogen Management - Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment of Germany
37:08 - #Nitrogen4NetZero: South Asian leadership on nitrogen for COP26 - Dr. Masumur Rahman, Director General South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) and Government of Bangladesh
45:40 - “Why Nitrogen?” - A two-way conversation between Urmi Goswami journalist at The Economic Times, India and Prof. Mark Sutton
59:51 - The Commonwealth Blue Charter, Mangroves and Sri Lanka: Progressive partnership in mitigating Climate Change impacts - Rt. Hon. Patricia Janet Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, Secretary General of the Commonwealth
1:09:52 - Way Forward: Sri Lanka’s aspirations on climate resilience and adaptation: COP26 and beyond - Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary of Environment, Sri Lanka
1:18:57 - Concluding Remarks - Hon. Prof. G. L. Peiris, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka