National Workshop on “Climate Crisis: Vulnerabilities and Adaptation Strategies-Science and Policy Interface” inaugurated at JU

Jammu March 14: National Workshop on “Climate Crisis: Vulnerabilities and Adaptation Strategies-Science and Policy Interface” was inaugurated by Janab Choudhary Lal Singh, Hon’ble Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Jammu & Kashmir today at University of Jammu. The two-day workshop is jointly organized by Department of Environmental Science, University of Jammu, Jammu and State Climate Change Centre-J&K, Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing, Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

In his inaugural remarks, the Chief Guest Choudhary Lal Singh, lauded the efforts of organizers for conducting the workshop on such contemporary aspect of sustainable development. He shared his experiences and efforts of his department towards environmental conservation. He talked about various governmental initiatives pertaining to sustainable development of J&K state such as greening of National Highway links and green corridors for the train tracks. He emphasized the role of an individual in sustainable development of the society and asserted that speed of individual change is precursor to enhanced climate change. The Chief Guest suggested that individuals need to change self-centric approach and should take care of their immediate environment and social responsibilities. He stressed that priority should be given to traditional knowledge base of indigenous population in tackling the issues related to sustainable development of the region and climate change in particular.

In his presidential address, Professor R.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu elaborated the efforts made by University for environmental protection and greening the campus. In his address, Professor Sharma highlighted the activities of Green Campus Task Force, Save Tawi Campaign and incorporation of Environmental Science as a component at various stages of curriculum development besides University’s efforts for conduct of green campus audit and to acquire ISO 14000 certification.

Special Guest of the function Shri Ravi Kumar Kesar, Pr. Chief Conservator of Forests, J&K emphasized the need to sustainably develop Himalayan regions as mountainous areas are more vulnerable to climate change than the plains. He said that forests of Himalayan region are threatened due to ever-growing need of timber, fuelwood and grazing and showed concern over loss of forest biota due to increase in temperature.

Shri Saurabh Bhagat Commissioner/Secretary to Govt., Forest, Ecology and Environmentaccentuated the fact that events of forest fires, erratic rainfall, melting of glaciers, sea-level change, snow tsunami, and cloudburst exhibited the presence of climate change and unless we address the causes of climate change we have to be ready to face consequences. He elaborated upon the various efforts taken by state forest department and need to sensitize the younger generation about the necessary steps to be taken for combating climate change.

The Keynote address was delivered by Professor S. P. Singh, FNA and Ex Vice-Chancellor, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Uttarakhand. In his address on ‘Climate change effects in Himalayas and their interactions’, Professor Singh demonstrated that why Himalayas are so critical in terms of climate change and country’s economy. He highlighted the enormous value of ecosystem services flowing from Indian Himalayan states to whole nation and discussed in detail the various indicators exhibiting the occurrence of climate change with particular emphasis on agriculture and receding water bodies. He also underlined the urgency to adopt India centric models for mitigating climate change. Providing clean cooking at affordable costs to poor people and need for climate change justice to culprits as well as victims were the major recommendations of his lecture.

Earlier, Convener of the workshop, Professor A. K. Raina welcomed the guests, subject experts and participants and introduced the theme of workshop.

The formal vote of thanks was given by Shri Om Prakash Sharma, Director, Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing. The inaugural function was attended by various heads and members of University teaching fraternity, forest officials, administrative officials of University of Jammu and various resource persons of national and international repute who will be deliberating upon the diverse issues of climate change and interacting with the participants during the two-day workshop. The workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about various facets of climate change and will cover scientific understanding of climate drivers, vulnerabilities associated with climate change, climate database and modeling, climate change impacts on various components of environment, human activities and livelihood, and adaptation-mitigation strategies alongwith policy interventions for enhancing the resilience capabilities of vulnerable groups.