Panaji: Minister for Environment Nilesh said that the government is committed to climate change action without compromising on development agenda, but striking an appropriate balance. He was speaking after inaugurating a state-level workshop on climate change to sensitize government departments, banks and other stakeholders about the role they need to play individually and institutionally to tackle climate change impact organized by NABARD, Goa regional office.
Delivering introductory address, Kamakshi S Pai, chief general manager, NABARD, said that Goa being a coastal State is high on the vulnerability index pertaining to climate change impact.
She stated that NABARD has facilitated the Goa state biodiversity board in preparation for the state action plan on climate change through NABARD Consultancy Services. The draft plan is under State government consideration and once accepted, all the departments, especially transport, agriculture, animal husbandry and veterinary services, forest, water resources and energy departments, have to plan and execute climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
She called upon all the stakeholders to build in climate consciousness in all their actions as a collective action is critical for tackling climate change impact.
Kamakshi Pai added that to fund climate change adaptation/mitigation projects, NABARD is channelizing central funds as a national implementing entity for adaptation fund and national adaptation fund on climate change. NABARD is also direct access entity for green climate fund.
NABARD has also set up a climate change fund for creating awareness and supporting replicable interventions for adapting to and mitigating climate change impact. Subhash Chandra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, spelt out measures taken by his department for increasing the forest cover and sought to introduce eco-tourism and agroforestry in the State through community participation.
N Narayana Raju, assistant general manager, NABARD, made a presentation on climate change impact and the adaptation and mitigation measures to combat the same. Dr Pradeep Sarmokadam, Member Secretary, Goa State Biodiversity Board, a nodal agency on climate change in the State of Goa, made a presentation on draft State Action Plan on Climate Change and provided insights into various areas of vulnerability assessed in the Action Plan.
Officials from government departments, banks, research and development institutions, and NGOs participated in the workshop