Overview Sri Lanka is experiencing the accelerated impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, more intense cyclones, and sea level rise have placed significant pressure on the country’s water cycle—threatening water supply, agriculture, energy generation, human settlement, and public health. In response, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, under the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing, has taken pioneering actions by developing South Asia’s first utility-level climate change resilience roadmap, a strategic framework addressing both adaptation and mitigation. The climate change resilience roadmap provides a comprehensive framework to assess vulnerabilities, identify investment priorities, and strengthen access to climate and concessional finance. It has contributed to the Board’s global recognition by the International Water Association as an Outstanding Climate Smart Utility. Integrated into the $200-million Asian Development Bank-financed Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Program, the roadmap is aligned with Sri Lanka’s national climate strategies and is a cornerstone of its journey toward a climate-resilient and low-carbon water sector. Challenges The National Water Supply and Drainage Board lacked the tools to systematically assess climate risks, monitor greenhouse gas emissions, or plan adaptive responses. There were overlapping mandates among water agencies, which complicated coordination and caused some promising measures to be excluded. Data gaps–exacerbated by the COVID-19–delayed progress. Context Sri Lanka ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, and water is one of its hardest-hit sectors. The climate change resilience roadmap was created to address gaps in water and climate-related issues—outlining a strategic approach in evaluating climate vulnerabilities, identifying adaptation and mitigation investment options for “hard” infrastructure and “soft” institutional measures, and mapping the National Water Supply and Drainage Board’s carbon footprint. As the first roadmap of its kind for a water utility in the region, it represents a level of planning typically seen in major global cities or private sector leaders. The roadmap is embedded in Sri Lanka’s Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Program, ensuring government endorsement and action. It also lays the groundwork for a national carbon-reduction strategy, climate finance proposals, and sector-wide expansion. With support from climate funds, policy reforms, and development partners, the roadmap provides a clear and actionable path toward a climate-resilient water future. Solutions The climate change resilience roadmap’s development followed a four-step process that integrated data, governance, and technology. Step 1: Data A nationwide survey across National Water Supply and Drainage Board offices and water supply schemes identified where assets were most exposed to climate risks. Using hazard maps, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reports, and climate projections, the team assessed vulnerability and energy consumption, forming the basis for a greenhouse gas inventory. Total emissions were estimated at roughly 215,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, revealing significant potential for reduction. Step 2: Options Building on this foundation, a wide range of investment options were identified. “Hard” measures like infrastructure upgrades aimed at climate adaptation and emission reduction were paired with “soft” institutional and capacity-building reforms. Adaptation measures were guided by a climate risk and adaptation options assessment, drawing on national risk maps, operational data, Sri Lanka’s nationally determined contributions, targeted technical studies, and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reports. For mitigation, greenhouse gas inventory and energy data informed a long list of options, refined based on feasibility and payback potential. Step 3: Governance To strengthen the institutional side, the Board applied a climate corporate governance framework from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. It assessed the utility’s preparedness across seven dimensions—from leadership and accountability to transparency and validation—providing a baseline and pathway for improvement. Step 4: Technology Technology played a central role in shaping the roadmap. Building on the earlier steps, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board developed a dedicated climate change and information technology plan to guide how data should be collected, managed, and used. This plan enables the utility to monitor climate risks, verify emission reductions, and evaluate the impact of investments over time. These digital tools not only support compliance with Sri Lanka’s nationally determined contributions but also help the Board learn, adapt, and make better and more informed decisions. The climate change resilience roadmap is only as good as the benefits it delivers. It is more than a plan. It is a springboard for climate resilience, stronger performance, and new financing opportunities. Results Using the climate change resilience roadmap, Sri Lanka has identified over $460 million in climate investments for its water sector. It is also expected to bring wide-ranging benefits across multiple areas: Mitigation and adaptation investments. It identifies mitigation options with short payback periods—whether through cost savings, revenue from carbon credits, or access to concessional finance. Some options could tap into Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which enables trading of verified emissions reductions. It also identifies adaptation opportunities aligned with the Board’s support to Sri Lanka’s nationally determined contributions commitments by prioritizing investments that address key climate risks–droughts, floods, and salinity intrusion—through the use of non-traditional water sources, construction of grey and green protective measures, and establishment of salinity barriers to strengthen long-term water security and resilience. Climate finance mobilization. By assessing vulnerabilities and setting adaptation objectives, it provides the National Water Supply and Drainage Board with a credible foundation for accessing international climate funds and gives development partners confidence in helping Sri Lanka. Accountability and learning. It enhances systems for monitoring, reporting, and verification of climate actions, opening doors to results-based financing. It also embeds monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems to ensure that lessons from implementation can inform future planning and investments. Governance and national commitments. Through the climate corporate governance framework, climate risk assessments and planning are embedded into daily operations, supporting Sri Lanka’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. Regional leadership. It positions the National Water Supply and Drainage Board as a regional leader in climate-smart water management, demonstrating how water utilities can integrate climate resilience strategies into core operations and governance frameworks. Although it is early to measure full success, encouraging signs include the National Water Supply and Drainage Board’s active involvement, demand for tools such as the IT plan and monitoring system to track climate action, staff training, and growing interest in carbon credits. A review in two years will help assess which benefits materialized, and why. Lessons Field visits proved invaluable. They helped fill critical data gaps, aligned the roadmap with the National Water Supply and Drainage Board’s priorities, and built the trust needed for strong institutional ownership. The Board’s ownership became evident as it revised investment lists, added overlooked measures, and even pushed ADB to support a climate monitoring system that extended beyond the project’s original scope. This insistence on practical tools to track progress shows how seriously the utility has embraced the roadmap and its long-term implementation. The development and rollout of the climate change resilience roadmap also offer valuable insights for other utilities and governments pursuing climate resilience: Aligning with development goals. Climate planning works best when it reinforces broader national priorities. The roadmap reinforced national goals such as governance reforms, green growth, and low-carbon development, while advancing climate adaptation. Value of early missions. Delays in data collection highlighted the value of initial exploratory visits, which help map baseline data, clarify how the roadmap will be used, and identify necessary tools for effective implementation. Embedding governance reviews. Periodic reviews using the climate corporate governance framework build institutional capacity and continuity. Linking plans to finance. Linking the roadmap directly to financing through policy-based loans, climate funds, and potential carbon finance ensures actionable results. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board’s experience also highlights opportunities for scaling and replication: Replication across utilities. The climate change resilience roadmap model—combining climate vulnerability assessments, greenhouse gas inventories, adaptation and mitigation planning, and financing strategies—can be replicated across the region, offering a practical blueprint for integrating climate resilience into utility operations. Sector-level scaling. The roadmap can be scaled to the sector level. Expanding the approach across the entire water sector would improve coordination, resolve overlapping mandates, and enhance access to climate finance. Climate-smart infrastructure investment. The roadmap identifies opportunities for investments that enhance resilience and emissions reductions. Priorities include energy-efficient treatment plants and pumping systems, improved management of nonrevenue water, and upgraded wastewater facilities. These investments are being considered for inclusion in an ADB-financed pipeline project in Sri Lanka, complementing ongoing policy reforms and aligning with the country’s national climate commitments. Resources Asian Development Bank and World Bank. 2021. Climate Risk Country Profile: Sri Lanka. Disaster Management Centre. 2019. Risk Index for Sri Lanka. (Population Risk for Flood, Drought (Drinking Water Scarcity, Landslides & Tsunami). Government of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment. 2016. National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka. Climate Change Secretariat. Government of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Environment. 2021. Sri Lanka Updated Nationally Determined Contributions. Government of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Environment. 2022. Third National Communication of Climate Change in Sri Lanka. Submission to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat prepared by the Climate Change Secretariat, Ministry of Environment. World Bank. Climate Change Knowledge Portal for Sri Lanka. Ask the Experts Pedro Almeida Senior Urban Development Specialist, Water and Urban Development Sector Office, Sectors Department 2, Asian Development Bank Pedro Almeida has over 25 years of experience in engineering, management, and evaluation of infrastructure projects. At ADB, he has worked in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India and now supports Tonga, Kiribati, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Previously, he was a consultant in the Kyrgyz Republic and managed World Bank-funded projects in Brazil. He also served as site manager in Portugal and Mozambique. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering, an MSc in Buildings, and a postgraduate degree in Health and Safety in construction. Follow Pedro Almeida on Alessio Giardino Senior Climate Change Specialist (Coastal Adaptation), Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department, Asian Development Bank Dr. Alessio Giardino is a senior climate and coastal adaptation specialist with over 20 years’ experience in climate adaptation, disaster risk management, and coastal resilience. He leads the knowledge and innovation work to inform the design of resilient investments in the water sector, specifically on coastal adaptation. Prior to ADB, he worked at Deltares in The Netherlands. He holds a MSc in Environmental Engineering (cum laude) from the University of Turin in Italy, and a PhD in Coastal Engineering from KU Leuven in Belgium. Follow Alessio Giardino on Kamal Dahanayake Senior Project Officer (Urban, Water and Sanitation), Sri Lanka Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank Kamal Dahanayake has over 30 years of experience in urban, water and sanitation sector development. As a project team leader, he has contributed to the successful completion of various urban development, water supply and sanitation sector development projects. Currently, he is involved in processing policy-based sector reforms programs in the water supply and tourism sectors in Sri Lanka and a climate resilience food security project in Maldives. Follow Kamal Dahanayake on Anoja Kaluarachchi Former Deputy General Manager (Environmental & Social), National Water Supply & Drainage Board of Sri Lanka Anoja Kaluarachchi is a civil engineer with over 32 years of experience in planning and implementing drinking water supply and sanitation projects, water resources development, water safety plans, and climate-related disaster risk management. She is involved in implementing environmental and social safeguards, ensuring water safety and security with a focus on climate change resilience. Follow Anoja Kaluarachchi on Casper Van der Tak Senior Consultant, Nutawa sagl Dr. Casper Van der Tak has over 27 years of experience in climate change mitigation and adaptation, over 23 years of experience in carbon markets, and over 12 years of experience in climate finance, formulating programs, mobilizing climate finance, and tracking climate finance. He frequently performs assignments for the Asian Development Bank on these issues, with over 20 assignments since 2012. He holds a MSc and PhD in economics from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Follow Casper Van der Tak on Marie Christelle Garcia Strategic Knowledge Management & Communications Specialist, Asian Development Bank Marie Garcia is a development communications professional supporting knowledge and outreach initiatives. A writer and storyteller, she creates content across different platforms, including publications, blogs, social media, and other knowledge products. She specializes in communications for climate change, water, and urban development. She holds a master's degree in Nonfiction Writing from Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Follow Marie Christelle Garcia on Asian Development Bank (ADB) The Asian Development Bank is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—49 from the region. Follow Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Leave your question or comment in the section below: View the discussion thread.