Bangalore, Nov 26- With increasing temperature and unusual weather pattern, the Government should come up with Bangalore Declaration on climate change followed with committed implementation of the action plan, urged eminent speakers at the Climate Leadership Summit held here today.
Organised by Centre for Sustainable Development, an organization led by the former Chief Secretary Dr. A. Ravindra, the Summit discussed various aspects of climate change and its impact on Karnataka in general and Bangalore in Particular.
In his key note address Prof. N.H. Ravindranath, expert, UNFCC and former head of Centre for Sustainable Technologies, IISc, opined that though Karnataka has climate action cell at state and BBMP level separately, these lack basic infrastructure and proper funding. Government should be serious on the impact climate change bringing. As temperature soaring in Bangalore is combating untimely rains followed by flood. Similarly going with present trend, temperature in northern and central Karnataka going to increase 2- 2.5 degree Celsius within next ten years. “If not acted as emergency we are surely going to loosed battle against climate change”, he warned.
Speaking at one of the sessions, Preeti Gehlot, special Commissioner, BBMP, looking after climate action cell, lamented about the lack of public participation in the initiative. “On the one hand the cell lacks basic infrastructure and on the other hand, people who question on the actions, are away from the active participation”, she said.
Adding to this Dr. Ram Prashant Manohar, Chairman, BWSSB, propagated active participation of the intermediate agencies in the government projects to tackle climate change.
Earlier inaugurating the Climate Leadership Summit, former minister and State Representative in New Delhi, Dr. T.B. Jayachandra “Karnataka is becoming second most dry state after Rajastan due to changing pattern of weather. Agriculture particularly in northern Karnataka hit by inconsistent rainfall. The climate change posed serious threat to food security and health. There should be committed approach to tackle the issue”, he added.
The Summit advocated research to understand climate projections and impacts at the district level. Early warning systems and forecasts should be reliable and needs to be developed at the micro level. Government should encourage the participatory engagement of all stakeholders. Additionally, there should be a dedicated funding for promoting resilience to climate risks and disasters, the Summit urged.
