A State-Level Workshop on “Assessing Vulnerability and Climate Risks: Strategies for a Climate-Resilient Jharkhand” was successfully organized in Ranchi on Tuesday, bringing together policymakers, scientists, and experts to deliberate on Jharkhand’s strategies for climate resilience. The event, aimed at strengthening the state’s capacity to tackle climate challenges, witnessed robust discussions and participation from prominent institutions and organizations.
The workshop was inaugurated by Aboobacker Siddiqui, Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change. In his inaugural address, Siddiqui emphasized the importance of aligning state efforts with the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) and reiterated Jharkhand’s commitment to contributing to India’s national climate goals. He called for collaborative and localized approaches to address the state’s unique vulnerabilities to climate change.
Satyajit Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Forces (PCCF & HoFF), highlighted the departmental activities that directly support climate action, including large-scale afforestation, soil and water conservation, and wildlife protection initiatives. He underlined the role of the Forest Department in building a sustainable and climate-resilient future for the state.
Susheela Negi, Scientist-F, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, shed light on the central government’s enhanced efforts toward climate resilience through capacity building and scientific interventions under the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC). She praised Jharkhand’s proactive approach to integrating national programs with local climate strategies.
Ravi Ranjan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF)-CAMPA, spoke about the Forest Department’s extensive training and capacity-building programs aimed at climate resilience. “Our initial steps have already demonstrated strong potential in empowering communities and institutions to combat climate risks effectively,” he remarked.
The workshop also saw the participation of A.K. Rastogi, Chairman, Task Force on Sustainable Just Transition, Government of Jharkhand, who shared insights into creating a sustainable and equitable path for the state’s economic and environmental future.
Prashant Kumar, Secretary, Finance Department, emphasized the need to develop a robust framework for a carbon market in Jharkhand. He pointed out that leveraging carbon markets and climate finance would enable the state to align with global trends while achieving its climate goals.
The workshop drew participation from representatives of prestigious organizations, including IIT Mandi, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad, NABARD, Birsa Agricultural University, BIT Mesra, GIZ, TERI, IEEFA and PwC, among others. Their collective inputs are expected to play a crucial role in shaping Jharkhand’s climate action framework.
The workshop concluded with a call for continued collaboration and innovation to strengthen Jharkhand’s capacity to address climate challenges. With its rich natural resources and unique socio-ecological landscape, the state holds immense potential to become a model for climate resilience in India.