Speaking at the release of IPCC (Inter Government Panel on Climate Change) Report here today, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Space & Atomic Energy, said that global warming and climate change are man-made phenomena and therefore the remedy also lies to a large extent on greater public awareness. He said, stabilization of population on the planet is another urgent need if we wish to save the Earth’s Eco-system.
Dr Jitendra Singh observed that the Department of Earth Sciences headed by him had, in the last eight weeks, not only made accurate monsoon related climate forecasts but had also helped avoid major natural calamity by accurately forecasting inclement weather enroute Kedarnath Yatra during third week of July. This has proved India’s scientific capability in climate forecast as also in other scientific fields in general as being world class and comparable with any other developed country of the world, he added. Referring to his priority to encourage young scientists, Dr Jitendra Singh said that one of the major decisions taken by him after taking over the Department was to avoid such foreign visits by the Minister where he was not personally required for scientific or research deliberations.
Citing major achievements in the field of Science & Technology in the last two months, Dr Jitendra Singh referred to the launch of commercial satellite from PSLV C23 on 30th June and said soon this will be followed by space voyage to Mars. In addition, he said the Department is working seriously on the project for creating a SAARC satellite as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Sriharikota. Enumerating other major challenges in the years to come, Dr Jitendra Singh said ocean warming will be a dominating factor for increase in energy in the climate stored system. In this context, he referred to launch of first ever indigenously built Research Ship Vessel from Goa recently.
Congratulating the organizers of today`s programme, Dr Jitendra Singh said , a clear and up-to-date review of the current status of scientific knowledge is relevant for the understanding of the climate change taking place globally and to that extent, this seminar as well as the report released will be of great service. Sam Bickersteth, R.K. Pachauri , Rana Kapoor and Dipankar Sanyal among others also spoke on the occasion.