Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday called upon all stakeholders like Governments, scientists, environmentalists, sectoral experts, civil society, media, community and elected public representatives to work united to address the climate change issues successfully.
Speaking at a workshop on ‘Connecting the dots-engaging with elected representatives of Odisha on climate change,’ organised by the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata and Centurion University here, Patnaik said, “The climate change issues are multidimensional and multisectoral; hence, it requires combined efforts to address these issues.”
Stressing on understanding and internalisation of these issues he said the legislators and other elected representatives can play a pivotal role in mainstreaming the climate change issues into the overall policymaking, developmental planning and programme implementation.
The success of the efforts for adaptation to and mitigation climate change effects depends on the understanding and internalisation of these issues by the elected representatives from the level of gram panchayats to the State legislatures and Parliament.
Stating that Odisha is more vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change, Patnaik maintained that the State’s geographical location and geophysical conditions have made it more vulnerable to the harmful effects of climate change while poor people are more vulnerable to its adverse effects on their livelihood.
“About a three-fourth of our State’s population depends on climate-sensitive natural resource-based livelihoods such as agriculture, fisheries and forestry,” said Patnaik, adding that the Government is going to commission a study for assessing the carbon footprint of the State.
The study is expected to provide significant inputs for devising a low carbon growth strategy. Also, the State Government is setting up a Green Energy Development Corporation to promote green and renewable sources of power including solar, hydel and biomass energy.Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray, Revenue Minister SN Patro, British Deputy High Commissioner to Eastern India Sanjay Wadvani also spoke at the event.