The Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) R.K. Pachauri on Monday urged the North-Eastern states to carry out climate modelling studies to assess the impacts of climate change.
Speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day regional consultation on Combating Climate Change in the North-Eastern and Lower Himalayan Regions of India, Dr. Pachauri cautioned that the region is vulnerable to climate change and it is important, therefore, to assess its impacts. The study is critical to the region as a large part of the benefits that accrue to society evolved from the eco-systems, he added.
Dr. Pachauri pointed out that there has been an increase in the occurrence of extreme events such as drought, floods and precipitation in the region.
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The consultation was organised by Oxfam India, in collaboration with the Centre for Legislative Research and Advocacy (CLRA), a public policy research and legislative advocacy organisation, and Guwahati University.
The objective was to bring together the important stakeholders in a dialogue on the impacts of climate change on agriculture, and public health, and displacement-related issues and to discuss the State's responsibilities in this regard and the legitimate role that legislators, policy-makers and citizens can play.
The IPCC chief expressed concern over the rapid melting of glaciers and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere as result of industrialisation, which is greatly altering the temperatures across the globe and causing a rise in the sea level.
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He urged Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, also present at the consultation, to ensure that the State was ready to receive and utilise funds under the Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) scheme for undertaking afforestation programme.
Mr. Gogoi said that a massive afforestation programme had been initiated by his government, particularly involving the school children. He assured that his government would work in collaboration with the The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), headed by Dr. Pachauri.