Dilmah launches Grey2Green: Call to greening urban spaces

COLOMBO’S built-up areas have warmed by up to 4°C over the last two decades, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, emphasising the urgent need for more green spaces in the city.

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In response to this growing ecological and social challenge, Dilmah Conservation and the United Nations Global Compact Sri Lanka launched Grey2Green on 22 November—a transformative national movement inviting individuals, communities, organisations, and students to turn concrete “grey” areas into thriving green spaces.

Unlike traditional greening efforts, Grey2Green is not a tree-planting campaign; it is a grassroots, citizen-powered movement seeded by Dilmah. The initiative empowers the public, universities, environmental groups, and institutions to identify neglected rooftops, unused land, industrial sites, and degraded pockets of the city and convert them into ecological oases.

To support participants, Dilmah will provide training in urban forestry, tree ecology, landscape planning, and ecosystem management through its expert network, ensuring that each site is restored using sound, sustainable science.

The launch event outlined the program’s vision, goals, and long-term roadmap, opening the door for widespread public involvement.