DIMAPUR, AUGUST 9 (MExN): An orientation programme on Climate Change Adaptation for Senior Officials in Nagaland (Level 2) was held on August 9 at Hotel Vivor, Kohima. It was organised by Nagaland State Climate Change Cell (NSCCC) under the Nagaland Science &Technology Council (NASTEC), nodal department of Science & Technology, in collaboration with Climate Change Cells of the 12 Himalayan states.
According to a DIPR report, Nagaland Chief Secretary, Temjen Toy in his key note address remarked that climate change is real and its evidences are everywhere – changes in weather patterns, changes in planting and harvest seasons, freaky rainfall patterns, and sometimes, unprecedented long dry spells, landslides, forest fires etc.
Toy said one of the biggest challenges that the state faces, being a mountainous and agrarian state, is impact on agriculture and infrastructure. The state has numerous climate focused externally aided development projects with various departments, but the challenge lies in how to build institutional capacities and awareness of agencies, organizations and citizens to recognize and deal with not only the challenges but to adopt climate friendly measures, technology and lifestyles, he added.
The Chief Secretary noted that climate change needs to be addressed through convergence and collaborative actions; to be informed with global trends so that one is equipped to deal with issues in ways that are sustainable and innovative.
Commissioner& Secretary, Dellirose M. Sakhire in her welcome address said the key objectives of Nagaland State Climate Change Cell (NSCCC), which was established in April 2017, is assessment of vulnerabilities and risks due to climate change in the state in selected sectors; institutional capacity building to attain the capacity to understand and handle climate change and to find solutions to address the problem of the climate change in the state; create climate change knowledge portal for strengthening of observation networks, data gathering and assimilation etc.
Divya Mohan (IHCAP) in her brief remarks about IHCAP said that climate change is a growing concern for the world; it is impacting the natural resources, ecosystem and communities. A brief overview of Nagaland State Action Plan on Climate (NSAPC) was presented by Chief Conservator of Forests & State Nodal officer for Climate Change, Supongnukshi. Other highlights of the programme include technical session on Climate Change Science, Climate Change Policies, and group activity on Climate Change Adaptation.
