GOVERNMENT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH & GIZ CONCLUDE DAY 1 OF TWO-DAY CLIMATE CONFERENCE WITH LAUNCH OF REVISED STATE ACTION PLAN ON CLIMATE CHANGE, CM AND GERMAN AMBASSADOR LAUNCHED REVISED STATE ACTIONP LANONCLIMATECHANGE, ANNOUNCEMENT ON KNOWLEDGE NETWORK AND STATE PLATFORM ON CCA ANDDRR, RELEASE OF POSTER ON SAPCC- SDGLINKAGES
Shimla (Face2News)
The Department of Environment, Science & Technology, Government of Himachal Pradesh in association with The German Development Cooperation (GIZ) concluded day one of the two-day climate conference at the iconic Hotel Peterhoff in Shimla. The conference was inaugurated by Honourable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Jai Ram Thakur, alongside inaugural sessions by Ambassador of Germany to India, Mr. Walter J. Lindner, and Shri Sonam Wangchuk, Director Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh.
Along with the delegates, Mr. Prabodh Saxena, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary (Env, S&T, Fin, Planning), Dr Akhilesh Gupta, Senior Advisor, Department of Science &Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, Mr Ram Subhag Singh, IAS, Chief Secretary HP, Mr. Kamal Kishore, Member Secretary, NDMA and Acting Director General, CDRI were also in attendance.
Where Mr. Saxena highlighted that all the professors and scientists from all over the world should join hands to discuss prevention and mitigation of climate change-induced risks in the Himalayas. Dr. Gupta underlined that the impact of climate change is multifold in the Himalayan region. Mr. Kishore emphasized on the 6 things Himalayan states should do to manage climate risks such as enhancing community level disaster preparedness and integrating state disaster management and climate change action plans. Mr. Walter J. Lindner also visited the nearby village to interact with the local women farmers and get a better understanding of their day today problems due to the constantclimatechange
Day one included two important technical sessions with eminent experts from the field who focused on Climate Hazard, Risk & Vulnerability in North Western Himalayas and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in Himalayas GLOF).The first session discussed the burning concerns which included‘ Hydrometeorological disasters & associated risks in the Indian Himalayan Region’, ‘Mainstreaming differential vulnerability of Himalayan Ecosystem and Climate Change: the way forward’ amongst others. Followed by the second session which had ‘Climate change modelling & possible GLOF scenario in Indian Himalayan Region’ and ‘Landslide scenario mitigation in North West-Indian Himalayan Region’ as thefocus.
Titled ‘SECURE HIMALAYA - SAFE INDIA”: Reducing Climate Change Induced Risks & Vulnerabilities due to GLOF-Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in Himalayas’, the conference discussed climate risks, community preparedness, role of financial institutions and climate change action plan in the region to reduce climate induced risks.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Shri Jairam Thakur and Ambassador Lindner launched the revised State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) and the Knowledge Network and State Platform on CCA and DRR. They also released the SAPCC- SDG poster and CAFRI Programme in the state.
Addressing the conference, Shri Jai Ram Thakur said, “We need to think of the impact of climate related risks and vulnerabilities for the next generations. As we progress, we demand more from the environment that is a growing concern. Glaciers are an integral part of our ecosystem and are under threat. We should be prepared to protect them else we will be putting our present and future generations under great risk. It will require a behavioural change from each one of us to bring about any shift in saving our fragileecosystem.”
Mr.WalterJ.Lindnerexpressedhisviews,“Climatechangeisatopicthatcannotbeignoredorneglected anymore. It manifests in different ways and support from developed countries is required for developing countries. Germany & India have a long standing cooperation, especially in Himachal Pradesh on topics such as climate change, hydropower and agriculture among others. This is a very important two-day conference, because the focus is on the exchange of views and ideas of experts rather than just long speeches.”
Shri Sonam Wangchuk added, “The future will see many unprecedented calamities if we don’t act now. It is important to engage the youth to build the prosperity of the mountains. Eco literacy and climate literacy should become paramount in the education system, especially in the mountain regions.
Bigger cities owe the people in the mountains the support and finances to deal with hazards and prepare better. We have to come up with original, fundamental solutions for mountainous regions since the challenges and lives are different from those living in New Delhi or New York. One cannot just keep adapting to climate change. Mitigation is key.”
Day one included two important technical sessions with eminent experts from the field who focused on Climate Hazard, Risk & Vulnerability in North Western Himalayas and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in Himalayas GLOF).The first session discussed the burning concerns which included‘ Hydrometeorological disasters & associated risks in the Indian Himalayan Region’, ‘Mainstreaming differential vulnerability of Himalayan Ecosystem and Climate Change: the way forward’ amongst others. Followed by the second session which had ‘Climate change modelling & possible GLOF scenario in Indian Himalayan Region’ and ‘Landslide scenario mitigation in North West-Indian Himalayan Region’ as thefocus.
Day 2 of the conference will shed light on the approaches for mainstreaming CCA and DDR at the sub-national level, risk preparedness and community response and on the vital role of financial organizations in climate change and disaster risk reduction. The conference will culminate with the announcement of the path forward by Governor Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.