Political campaigns, other celebrations, and Climate Change – Sri Lankan context

Local elections in Sri Lanka are coming up and are scheduled to be held on 9^th March 2023. Sri Lankans will be eligible to elect members to 340 local government authorities. Elections usually draw a picture of posters, cutouts, polythene decorations, loudspeakers, fireworks, or mass pollution in a short period. But it is also important to highlight that Sri Lanka has become climate conscious during elections in the past few years. In 2020 Gotabaya Rajapaksa was awarded the “Zero Carbon Certificate” for the first-ever “Zero Carbon Presidential Election Campaign” in the world conducted with community participation.

This article discusses the environmental impact and carbon footprint created by elections and other celebrations worldwide in Sri Lanka.

                   Election Campaigns

Climate change, like voting in a democracy, is a collective action problem. But unfortunately, individuals may hesitate to expend resources and effort to reduce their carbon footprints, knowing that the marginal impact on the global carbon budget is close to zero.

Election campaigns and election platforms are common occurrences right before a primary election in any country. They carry out various campaign activities to widen their parties and candidates’ campaign platforms and increase public gatherings. Examples include massive banners, firework displays, plastic flags, and Polythene leaflets distributed across the country. However, whether there is, a sustainable solution to such environmental problems is questionable, even if all national political parties accept a standard green campaign.                                               

The unregulated noise from mobile political propaganda during campaign meetings; the unchecked distribution and littering of sample ballots on Election Day; the open burning of campaign waste materials, which is prohibited under the Clean Air Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, and the failure to avoid the use of single-use plastics, adding to the mounting plastic pollution that ends up in the waterways and the ocean.

In Sri Lanka, the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 was amended by Act No. 56 of 1988 and Act No. 53 of 2000. National Environmental Protection Regulations under the National Environmental Act No. 47 of 1980 have been made by the Minister in charge of the Environment and Natural Resources. Under these regulations published in the Government Gazettes Extraordinary No. 1534/18 of February 01, 2008, and No. 1533/16 of January 25, 2008, “No person shall discharge, deposit or emit waste into the environment circumstances which cause or are likely to cause pollution, otherwise than under the authority of a license issued by the Central Environmental Authority. Accordingly, it is a crime in Sri Lanka to pollute the environment as done in political campaigns, yet it is not soundly implemented.

One solution to the problem is for candidates to place signs on private property with the landowner’s permission. Within city limits, candidates should check local ordinances for questions regarding municipally maintained rights of way. However, signs on state-maintained highways and drainages are prohibited even within city limits.

In addition to elections, it is important to mention other celebrations that cause much pollution and contribute to Climate Change.

                           Cultural Festivals

Man and celebrations have been intertwined since the dawn of humankind. Humans love to celebrate. We have marked our world with ancient rituals, seasonal celebrations, and cherished festivals. These perennial traditions have passed through generations, evolving to reflect the modern era. Many festivals have religious origins and entwine cultural and religious significance in traditional activities. Among many religions, a feast is a set of celebrations in honor of God or gods. Festivals often fulfill specific communal purposes, especially regarding commemoration or offering thanks to the gods, goddesses, or saints: they are called patronal festivals. They may also provide entertainment, which was particularly important to local communities before the advent of mass-produced entertainment.

Apart from these positive things, festivities have recently been a leading cause of environmental pollution. They exploit all spheres, like air, water, soil, and noise pollution. Therefore, we need to be aware of the effects of modern-era festivals and their impact on the environment. Festivals occur worldwide: Diwali in India, Mexico’s Dai De Los Muertos, Thailand’s Songkran Festival, and Japan’s Obon Festival.

How Festival contributes environmental Pollution and Climate change

                   Air pollution

Every year during festivals like Diwali, firecrackers are burned, releasing toxic gases and severe air pollution. In India, the fact that Diwali is as connected in the minds of Delhi residents to air pollution as it is to lights and celebrations is no longer a new phenomenon. In 2019 highest air pollution was recorded after the Diwali festival in New Delhi. There is an annual increase in Respirable Suspended Particulate Material (RSPM) in the air due to the bursting of firecrackers. RSPM are minute particles that are proven to contribute to various health issues such as asthma and bronchitis.

In Sri Lanka, the pollution levels in northern Sri Lanka are higher than in the southern parts because of the winds of the north blowing from the Indian peninsular region. The Indian and Sri Lankan governments have to address issues revolving around pollution collectively because once pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere, they can go anywhere and affect anyone worldwide. When northerly winds blow from the Indian peninsular region, pollution increases in Sri Lanka. This is the transfer period of two monsoon periods, and these calm winds concentrate pollutants in one place. Pollution levels are increasing further in Sri Lanka as India celebrates numerous festivals, including Diwali.

Water Pollution

There are festivals where decorated statues are taken out in the procession and immersed in water. The amount of toxins this practice adds to our water bodies is very high. After these statues are immersed, the water is contaminated and becomes unfit for usage. Some years the idols are made with clay, nowadays idols are made with Plaster Of Paris and chemical dyes. This hugely increases the toxin levels in the water bodies after immersion days. Eventually, these toxins enter the food chain and affect the marine ecosystem and biodiversity.

Additionally, during some festivals, it is considered holy to bathe in rivers and seas. But when many people do this together, it adds a lot of unwanted substances to the water, thereby polluting it. Garbage disposal is also a big issue during festivals. When crowds gather for precessions and cultural get-togethers, much garbage is disposed of on the roads, etc.

In Sri Lanka, After the annual Esala perahera, Kandy lake slightly pollutes by plastic and other waste. The reason is the presence of many people who litter everywhere.

Noise Pollution

Unwanted or excessive sound can have deleterious effects on human health, wildlife, and environmental quality. World Health Organisation (WHO) confirms that noise pollution is a nuisance to the environment but also causes a considerable threat to public health. Sound levels less than 70 dB are not damaging to living organisms, regardless of how long or consistent the exposure is. However, exposure for more than 8 hours to constant noise beyond 85 dB may be hazardous. The use of loudspeakers during festivals is one such reason. The frequencies at which the music or speeches are played out are dangerous. Various processions taken out during the festival time also cause a lot of noise pollution. We do not take the health impacts of continuous exposure to such high-decibel sounds seriously. However, the side effects of noise pollution affect toddlers and children and bring health issues in adults, like hypertension, sleep disturbance, tinnitus, and acute hearing loss. Moreover, excessive noise can be alarming and fatal to animals.

Under the Sri Lankan law December 2007 Supreme Court directive, loudspeakers, and sound amplification are prohibited for eight hours at night, between 10 pm and 6 am. In the case of special religious functions and special events, a police permit is required to use loudspeakers and amplifiers. Still, permits will be issued only after consultation with residents living in the vicinity.

                    Musical Shows

Live music is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Scientists guess that live music in the UK releases 405 million kilograms of carbon dioxide annually. Also, An hour of music streaming releases about 55 grams of carbon dioxide. That doesn’t sound so bad, but some hit songs are played more than a billion times worldwide. This ends up releasing at least 2,000,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide. In addition, big music festivals can create up to 100,000 kilograms of solid waste in a day! That’s enough to fill up 8 rubbish trucks. Much of it is plastic waste, such as single-use water bottles and packaging for merchandise.

Recently in the UK, studies have found that around 44% of tents are left at festivals while also discovering that UK festivals produce 23,5000 tonnes of rubbish annually.

As the vast majority of music festivals are in remote areas off the grid, music festivals must rely on importing power rather than connecting to pre-established energy grids. This often means trucking in massive diesel   (Statista)                 powered generators to provide round-the-clock electricity for sound systems, stage lights, flood lights, camp lights, RV power, vendor power, refrigeration systems, etc.

The largest source of emissions from music festivals is, without a doubt, attendee travel. In the UK, it is estimated that attendee travel emissions constitute 80% of total festival emissions overall, totaling over 78,000 metric tons of CO2. This is an equivalent emission driving an average vehicle for 190,709,046 miles, like making 760 trips to the moon, a round-trip visit to the sun, or driving at 60mph nonstop for 354 years.

Celebrations are linked to humans. Festivals cannot be stopped. But, at the same time, it is essential that they can be carried out through a sustainable process without environmental impacts.

(With Inputs from Dinesh Balasri )