[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he planet earth has not only become a global village but its global warming is due to excessive carbon dioxide, methane, greenhouse emissions other factors that affect climate change and this is turn will eventually affect cities, towns and villages, development works and agricultural activities in the coastal areas and by extension, the mountain ranges worldwide. One glaring example is the melting of glaciers especially in the North Pole area which has in turn resulted in the rise of water level of the oceans.It is in this context that the Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS)-III or IMI- Kohima Summit will delve on three themes water, forests and agriculture on a mountain perspective through sharing and collaboration on research, information and knowledge dissemination. The objective of the Mountain Caucus is the need for a comparative analysis of State Action Plan for Climate Change (SAPCC) from the Indian Himalaya region (IHR). This would involve exploring linkage from the IHR and the National Missions for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).
SAPCC is an offshoot of NAPCC (National Action Plan for Climate Change) which was first launched in 2008. NAPCC is the country’s contribution towards combating climate change. The plan seeks to outline existing and future policies addressing climate mitigation and adaptation while identifying eight core “national missions” which are all inter-linked. All States have been directed to make plans accordingly. SAAPCCs play a vital role in the Implementation of NAPCC.
The SAPCC Mountain Caucus will bring together different State actors involved in developing SAPCC and other agencies involved in the process to identify areas of shared objectives, collaboration, networking and co-sharing of knowledge and resources across the Himalayan region.
It is to be here mentioned that the SMDS 2013 is supported by the Swiss Agency for development and Cooperation (SDC) through Its Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP). The IHCAP focuses of capacity and knowledge enhancement through scientific and technological knowledge cooperation between India and Swiss scientific institutions.
German Development Organization (GIZ), the UNDP, World Bank and UK Department for international Development (DFID) are intent on providing technical assistance to interested States to help them develop their SAPCC. States do play a vital role in all this.
The whole problem of global warming stems due to carbon dioxide, greenhouse gas emissions and the like, so the climate has been affected in a slow adverse way. The concern about the Himalayan region is understandable when we study the constant continental drift and plate tectonics. From one giant landmass which geologists named Pangaea the land mass broke into pieces that eventually made up the continents and started moving northwards at the rate of few inches a century.
The Indian Peninsula followed close behind by Sri Lankan Island ultimately crossed what had been named as Tethys Sea and rammed into the belly of Asia and this collision about 25 million years ago, gave rise to the Himalayas. Other side effects were also the rise of the Aravalli Hills and the Patkai range of which the Naga Hills are a part.
Now, the planet is said to float on 12 major plates plus several smaller ones. When one plate rubs against another earthquakes occur. The Indian plate is sinking beneath the Burmese plate and when the friction is intense earthquakes occur in the quake prone N-E region
To combat the climate change one essential thing is to live in a hygienic environment for which the people themselves have to take care. Another is to take care of our forests through conservation and preservation. Such basis will add to the overall fight against climate change and global warming.
Seminars where theories are put forth are fine but more importantly, we must take care in our everyday lives.
