The conference on S & T Research-Policy-Practice Interface for Climate Risk Management highlighted how India is preparing itself to bring solutions to the global climate change problem though it has not contributed to the problem.
“Climate Change is a global problem. But per capita emissions (accumulative emissions that drive climate change) in India is less, and we are not part of the problem. However, we need to develop efficient use of technology to be part of the solution,” said Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology (DST), in his keynote address at the conference.
He added that it is evident that disasters are linked to climate, and we have to be atmanirbhar in dealing with disaster preparedness. Likewise, self-reliance is needed in tackling climate change, sustainable development, and anti-bacterial resistance. “For this to happen, connecting our systems and community participation are important. Knowledge creators and knowledge consumers need to work together. The role of industry and private sector and disruptive technology is significant”, he pointed out.
Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Advisor & Head-SPLICE & Climate Change Programme, DST, GoI (Chair), highlighted how DST is supporting climate change programmes across the country. “We have difficult situations like flood, cyclone. Additionally, with the pandemic COVID-19, it is crucial at this juncture to have disaster preparedness. We should work on disaster management with Science & Technology solutions,” he stressed.
The Conference was organised by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Ministry of Home Affairs, & Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
It was organized in the context that India is already prone to multiple disasters due to its wide range of environmental, geological, and developmental variations, and people’s vulnerability of disasters is aggravated with climate and associated environmental changes.
Globally and in India, there has been a paradigm shift in Disaster Management, from ‘response and relief centric’ approach to ‘prevention-preparedness and mitigation’ centric approach’, which calls for holistic, integrated and inclusive strategies with effective use of S&T interventions and innovations from across a range of disciplines.
This three-day conference aims at all-inclusive roadmap development through discussion & dialogue on experiences and lessons, gaps, and opportunities to utilize the range of S&T disciplines and innovations, including traditional and local science and role of institutions for promoting the same.
Other notable speakers in the first day of the conference were Maj Gen Manoj K Bindal, Executive Director, NIDM, GVV Sarma, Member Secretary, NDMA, Farhad Vania, Senior Portfolio Manager, GIZ India, and Kamal Kishore, Member, NDMA. Prof. Anil K Gupta, Head-ECDRM NIDM & PD-CAPRES DST Project (Convener), and Mr Ashish K Panda, Faculty, NIDM were facilitators. Experts, researchers, professionals, officials, and academicians from related Government organizations/department/Ministries, institutions, NGOs, and field professionals also attended the conference.
