There is need for setting up a climate change centre in the State as required in Himalayan States to address the burning issue of climate change. Instead of being presented mainly as an environmental issue, focusing also on the financial consequences would help increased participation in efforts to address it. These views were expressed by participants at the two-day workshop on Stocktaking for Sub-National Adaptation Planning (SSNAP) for Climate Change in Uttarakhand organised by the Forest Department with support from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), Acclimatise, Central Himalayan Environment Association (CHEA) and the Wildlife Institute of India.
Speaking at the conclusion of the workshop here on Thursday, principal secretary of forests, Dr Ranbir Singh acknowledged the view that the Government machinery lacks a proper structure to address climate change and environment. Stating that climate change is a real issue facing the world especially Uttarakhand which has been experiencing the melting of glaciers and extreme climate, he said that the recommendations from this workshop would prove helpful in planning and implementing measures to address climate change.
Acclimatise CEO John Firth said that based on inputs of the participants, it had been surmised that regarding activities related to climate change adaptation, participation, integration and implementation was poor while vision and mandate, human and institutional capacities and climate information are comparatively better.
Additional principal chief conservator of forests Rajiv Bhartari stressed on the need for setting up a climate change centre in Uttarakhand for which the Department of Science and Technology allocates funds. The State council for climate change appears to have been formed hurriedly as it does not include WII and lacks experts. He proposed that all organisations of the State participating in the workshop should organise at least one training programme with the support of forest department for capacity building. WII director VB Mathur said that the memorandum of understanding being drafted between the institute and forest department could be relooked at to incorporate aspects related to climate change. He stressed on the need for translating reports, protocols and related literature into the local language.