An orientation workshop for Legislators and policy makers was organised by Environment, Science and Technology Department on ‘Climate Change Adaptation in Himachal Pradesh’ here today.Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the climate change had emerged as the biggest challenge before the entire world today. He said climatic conditions of Himachal Pradesh were of great quality but if the effect of global climatic changes raises, the state would suffer most.He said as per recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), the temperature of the earth had increased by 0.2 percent in last twenty years, Besides there had been increase in heating trapping gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide, methane which was major reason for global warming. The climate changes had also resulted in drought, floods, storms and spread of various diseases. He said that if steps were not taken for environmental conservation, glaciers may disappear by 2050 and it could result into formation of lake which could prove disastrous.The Chief Minister said that the State Science Environment and Technology Department was working with close coordination with the Government of India for environmental conservation in the State. He said that it was duty of every citizen that we work for environmental conservation collectively. She said that the initiatives of the State in environmental conservation could be a trendsetter for the other states of the country.
Jai Ram Thakur also expressed concern that various glaciers in the state very melting fast. He said the state was considering expansion of hydroelectric projects and at the other hand glaciers were melting, which needed to be given special attention.Speaker, HP Vidhan Sabha also spoke on the occasion.Dr. Ashish Chaturvedi, Director Climate Change GIZ (India) while giving presentation on ‘Climate Change Adaptation in Rural Area-Indian Programme (CCA-RAI) in Himachal Pradesh’ said that we need to make efforts to enhance capacities to conceptualize and implement projects on climate change. He said that the main stress was on capacity building programme in the State. The efforts were being laid on strengthening capacity building up to the panchayat level.Prof. A.K, Gosain of Indian Institute of Technology while giving presentation on ‘Policy and Planning for Water Resource Management for Climate Change Adaption in HP’ said that the study on Himachal Pradesh on rainfall shows that the annual rain fall and annual number of rainy days had reduced drastically. This has resulted in negative impact on water bodies of the State. He said that we analyze each river basin of the State for availability of water resources so that study implication of climate changes on environment so that new adaptation strategies could be chalked out.
Dr Anil Kulkarni of Indian Institute of Science Bangluru gave a detailed presentation on Himalayan Glaciers and climate change. He said that most of the glaciers of the Himalayas are reducing and retreating which need to be redressed unless the situation become alarming.Shri Ajay Mathur Director General, TERI while giving presentation on the occasion said that it was vital to promote carbon sequestration scheme for conservation of forest and water resources, He said that these initiatives has to be taken at the highest level. He said that electric buses, power from waste, construction of solar passive houses and effective waste treatment plants could be beneficial for protecting environment of our cities. He said that since Himachal Pradesh is a fruit state, expert advice should be taken for increasing farm income and lesion bad impact on environment by minimizing use of chemical fertilizers. He also suggested for initiating Carbon Credit Scheme of the State to increase green cover and environment conservation.Addition Chief Secretary Environment Science and Technology Smt. Manisha Nanda while welcoming the participants said that climate was a reality and we all have to work with close coordination to cope with this. She said that if we do not take effective steps to work for environmental conservation, the very existence of humanity would be under threat. She said that it was vital to chalk out strategy for climate change and ensure effective information, education and communication conservation for spreading awareness regarding climate change and environment.Chief Secretary Shri Vineet Chawdhary, Secretary Vidhan Sabha Shri Sunder Singh Verma, Director and Special Secretary Environment Science and Technology Shri D.C. Rana were present on the occasion.