NE region vulnerable to climate change – Experts

Our Correspondent IMPHAL, April 3 (EMN): Experts were of unanimous decision that climate change is happening in Himalayan region adding that the North eastern states are highly vulnerable considering the annual changes in the temperature, rainfall pattern. This was disclosed by experts attending the day long stakeholders’ workshop on revision of State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) 2018-2023 here on April 2. The workshop was organised by state directorate of environment. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ravindranath from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, said that climate has changed across the globe and the rainfall patterns are declining while the warming rate is on the rise as per the available datas. Stating that climate change is global phenomenon, the author of four books on climate change and member of the UNFCC expert panel on Kyoto protocol also informed that global deforestation will contribute to the climate change even though deforestation in Manipur may not give much impact to it. The temperature will rise up to 1.5 to 2 degree Celsius in the country by 2030, he added while making a presentation on climate change projections, impacts, vulnerability and adaptation assessment. Sharing a similar sentiment, Dr. Ashok Singha of CTRAN, a consultancy agency from Bhubaneshwar, said that the climate change impact will increase invasive species, insects and pests besides losing bio-diversity while plants will move upward movement with the rise in temperature. Dr. Anamika Barua of IIT Guwahati also spoke on the climate change vulnerability assessment in North Eastern Region in the day’s workshop. Director of state environment department, Dr. Y Nabachandra, said the discussion was organised in order to bring out second version of the SAPCC by revising the existing SAPCC 2013 which requires revision as per national commitments with the involvement of 22 government departments. Earlier in his key note, Dr. T Brajakumar, key officer of the state climate cell of the department, said we should align with the line departments so that we can have additional budget for the implementation of the relevant projects in the state. Eminent economist Prof. N Mohendro, senior journalists A Mobi, Y Rupachandra, Valley Rose, Lalmalsawm Sellate, Vicky Suantak and scientists of ICAR also attended the day’s workshop.