Translating discussion into relevant outcomes
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 16
The Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), in collaboration with Earth Alliance Nagaland and the Nagaland Youth Consortium, has announced the convening of the Nagaland Climate Action Forum 2026. Scheduled for January 21 at 2:00 pm at Hotel Saramati, the event is organized under the theme– From Heat to Action: Rethinking Urban Resilience in Dimapur.
Addressing a press conference, DMC CEO Thungchanbemo Tungoe described the forum as a progression from previous awareness campaigns toward structured, action-oriented engagement. He emphasised the urgency of the situation given the city's known vulnerabilities.
"Dimapur, as Nagaland’s commercial and urban hub, stands at a critical juncture where climate adaptation and resilience planning can no longer be delayed," Tungoe stated. He noted that the city faces immediate challenges, including rising temperatures, urban flooding, infrastructure strain, and public health risks. The forum aims to unite policymakers and experts to chart practical pathways for adaptation, with Tungoe adding, "Our focus is not merely on discussion, but on translating awareness into informed action and policy-relevant outcomes."
LH Thangi Mannen, Director of Earth Alliance Nagaland, highlighted the severity of recent climatic shifts, citing data that Nagaland experienced 48 days of extreme weather last year. According to her, these changes disproportionately affect vulnerable demographics, including low-income families, children, and daily wage earners, leading to potential health consequences such as heat strokes.
Boka K Rochill, Policy Analyst for the Nagaland Youth Consortium, outlined the technical objectives of the forum. He announced that the event will witness the release of a ‘Working White Paper,’ which provides localised findings on urban heat stress, including land use and land surface temperature maps specific to Dimapur.
Regarding the engagement between civil society and the state, Mannen stressed the need for active public participation to ensure appropriate measures are taken. "We as individuals, we also have to be the pressure group who has to really make the government also do what is required to be done," she remarked.
The upcoming conclave on January 21 will involve “multi-stakeholder dialogue” supported by the district administration and community partners like Team Better Dimapur, SEWA, Pro Rural, and Can Youth.
