Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena Calls for Action at Ground Level at Workshop on Climate Change in Shimla
Shimla, February 20 — Climate change is catching up with Himachal Pradesh in a visible and overwhelming manner, impacting agriculture, horticulture and other segments of society. With severe consequences in store if these issues are not addressed, the State Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has since led a call to arms to combat climate change through a mass movement of raising awareness. Abstracting the presentation, Saxena said given the serious implications of climate change, the subject deserves to be discussed in public domain and politicised, included in political agenda especially in election manifestos.
This workshop was organized by the Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change, Himachal Pradesh in association with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) at Shimla. It highlighted the dramatic shifts in the state’s climate and its effects on people, the environment and the economy. We need to create awareness in the society, our villages should be aware about the damage being done by climate change.
Community based campaigns to raise awareness
A major point Saxena made at the workshop was that we needed to take climate change out of the closed room and into the public forum. He proposed that the buzz must not be confined to only government offices, seminar halls and workshops, and campaigns must be held at schools, colleges, research centers and, most crucially, at panchayats.
“Climate change has the most grassroots impact,” Saxena said. “People in rural areas, particularly farmers, are under tremendous pressure from unpredictable weather events and shifts in agricultural viability. We have to bring awareness of climate change to these communities, which, where the issue is the most acute.”
He said that schools and colleges should introduce climate topics in their curriculum and conduct programmes that can create awareness about sustainable practices and climate adaptation. Saxena also emphasized on involving the local panchayats in such awareness initiatives, due to their specific position to reach to the people in the most remote areas of the state.
Bringing Climate Change into the Political Agenda
Drawing parallels to Delhi elections, where issues like pollution and contamination of the Yamuna River became an important part of conversation, Saxena added that political parties in Hisataikh should emphasising on climate change as a grand issue in their election manifests. He said, though, that climate change is a global problem, but a local thing, and local challenges like decreased crop yield, unpredictable weather patterns and brackish water needed local fixes.
In Delhi, pollution was one of the top issues in the elections. Instead, we need to treat climate change as a matter of significance in our state,” Saxena said. “Climate change, and how to address it, should be one of the priorities within the agenda of political parties: propose concrete actions in the short and long term to protect the environment, reduce emissions and promote sustainability.”
The Chief Secretary is confident that now climate change is part of the political discourse, it will be increasingly visible, leading to swifter, more significant action within government.
Leadership In Pursuit Of A Healthier Himachal — Addressing Health And Nutrition Challenges
Emphasising on the issue of climate change, Saxena was also concerned about the health and nutritional status of children in the state. In Himachal Pradesh, close to 24 per cent of children cannot meet the basic standards of health due improper diets, he said. Though poverty isn’t the main driver of the issue, Saxena said poor dietary choices are causing malnutrition and related health problems in children.
“Although Himachal Pradesh isn’t necessarily a poor state, the consumption of junk food is becoming a huge issue,” he added. “It has an immediate effect on the health of children, and this is something that needs to be done urgently.”
Saxena added that there is a need to spread awareness regarding good nutrition and the consumption of energy-dense food grown locally and rich in micronutrients. He asked that health education be included in the school curriculums so future generations will opt for healthier food.
Optimism for Concrete Steps After the Workshop
To conclude, Saxena mentioned that he hopes discussion and conclusions made during the workshop would translate into action. He said he hopes the Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change produces a robust post-report plan that supports education on the issues surrounding climate change.
“The department has an important role to play in ensuring that the knowledge gained from this lab translates to actions on the ground,” Saxena said. “There is a need for a well-defined roadmap which will at least help in mitigating climate change impact in Himachal Pradesh, be it through improved agricultural practices or better water management strategies or some sustainable innovative solutions.”
He emphasized the role of community in fighting global warming, and stated that a unified force — in communities, and in government — would be key to combating climate change. Educating the public about climate change, he added, is the key to enacting long-term sustainable change in the state.
The Chief Secretary exhortation to action at a time when Himachal Pradesh faces the mounting impacts of climate change. The hope is that with collaboration from the state’s local communities, political leaders, and educational institutions, the state can create a better and more adaptive home for its environment and the future of its residents.
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