Calling upon educators to become role models for spreading awareness on climate change and its affects, Minister of State for Information, Culture and Education Priya Sethi said teachers are pillars of knowledge and can play a very positive role in motivating society towards the most important topic of climate change and sustainable living.She said society at large and students in particular look up to the educators for directions and the teaching fraternity should actively contribute towards environment issues.The Minister was speaking at a conference on ‘Climate Change (CC) and Sustainability-Equipping Educators on Climate Change’ here at Jammu University, today.The conference was jointly organized by Department of Environmental Sciences, Centre for Environment Education (CEE) Ahmedabad and Centre for Environment Education & Training (CEET), J&K.
Vice-Chancellor, Jammu University Prof. R.D. Sharma, Head of the Department Environmental Sciences, Prof. Anil Sharma, Dr. Abdesh Gangwar, Prof. Deepika Sharma, Eminent Environmentalist Dr. C.M. Seth, Teachers from different education at institutes, environmentalists, educationists and students attended the workshop.Underscoring the commitment of the government towards checking climate change, Priya said J&K State Council on Climate Change has been set up and the Chief Minister is heading the council, adding that being one of the most eco-sensitive states the issue of climate change and its adverse effects pose more threat to the, hilly state.She said last year’s flash floods and rains that created havoc in the state are clear signs of the Nature’s fury and mankind has to seriously think on maintaining ecological balance.“We have great hopes on our younger generation and I am sure that youngsters would show similar zeal as they have shown in the Swachh Bharat mission launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” she added.
Appreciating the efforts of the organizers, the Vice Chancellor called upon the society to adopt sustainable lifestyles and desist from excessive use of carbon fuels. He said the age old culture of the sub-continent promoted harmonious relationship with Mother Nature and the way of life involved around using bio-degradable things.Giving details of the environmental activities being organised all across the state, Dr. C.M. Seth said to spread awareness and to bring people near to Nature host of activities have been taken up in different schools. He said the real aim can only be reached when everybody adopts the way of life which is Nature centric and sustainable, adding that carbon footprint has to be reduced by involving different agencies.Dr. Gangwar in his presentation highlighted the role educators can play in spreading the message of climate change across the society. He said all over the nation a campaign has been launched to control the rise of temperature below 2 degrees and India is a signatory to the accord.He said the society has to shift from consumerism towards sustainable living and western countries are also adopting the Indian way of living which traditionally is nature centric.On the occasion, certificates and awards were presented to those teachers who have contributed to the cause of climate change. Two documentaries on the issue of climate change and the science express were also shown to the participants.