Raipur. A workshop on ‘Climate Friendly Chhattisgarh’ will be organized on November 26 at Mayfair Lake Resort, Atal Nagar, Nava Raipur under the joint aegis of Chhattisgarh State Center for Climate Change (CGSCCC) and Center for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) of Forest Department. The objective of this workshop is to discuss effective strategies to deal with the severe effects of climate change and suggest concrete steps for solution.
Recently, Chhattisgarh State Center for Climate Change has signed an MoU with Center for Environment and Energy Development. CEED is a leading institution working in important areas such as energy conversion, air quality improvement, circular economy and clean water access.
Outlining the initiatives of the Forest Department, Arun Kumar Pandey, IFS, Nodal Officer and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, CGSCCC, said, “Under the guidance of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force V. Srinivas Rao, Chhattisgarh Forest Department has taken many impressive initiatives, which have been appreciated at the national level. These include drafting an eco-restoration policy, making Chhattisgarh the second state in the country to take such a step. Apart from this, presenting the idea of setting up an eco-development board and organizing national level seminars, symposia and workshops on sustainable forest management, climate change and related topics are also part of these initiatives.
Talking about the current workshop, Arun Kumar Pandey said that Chhattisgarh is not only the country’s leading contributor in the energy sector, but is also a state highly affected by the threats of climate change. He said, “The Forest Department has been constantly working towards dealing with the threats of climate change and reducing its negative impact on citizens and the economy. Certainly, this workshop will become an important platform to give new direction to these efforts and develop effective strategies.
Students, researchers and academic experts from IIM Raipur, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University and Kalinga University, members of Chhattisgarh Council of Science and Technology (CGCOST) and representatives of major non-governmental organizations will participate in this workshop. It will discuss topics such as climate sensitivity, adaptation measures, renewable energy, industrial carbon reduction, sustainable agriculture, community approach and financial management for climate efforts.
This workshop is based on the important efforts and initiatives taken in Chhattisgarh towards climate change in recent years. These include the Chhattisgarh Climate Change Conclave launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister in March 2024, implementation of weather-based crop insurance schemes for climate-smart agriculture and the launch of the State Action Plan on Climate Change and Human Health (SAPCCHH) to deal with the impacts of climate change on health.
With the participation of all the stakeholders, this workshop will provide an opportunity to strengthen Chhattisgarh towards a sustainable and climate-friendly future and will present a model of a solid and proactive policy and implementation system to deal with climate change in the state.
