CCIP will help Odisha in tackling climate change: UK

CCIP is funded by UK Department For International Development under 12 million pounds technical assistance and is spread across six states of India

Affirming support to Odisha in tackling climate change, the UK today said the Climate Change Innovation Programme (CCPI) taken up in six Indian states under a 12 million pound technical assistance would ensure low-carbon and climate resilient development in the state.

"The UK has worked closely with Odisha on helping the state tackle climate change. Our partnership is supporting the state on low-carbon and climate resilient development which is helping the lives and livelihood of people," British Deputy High Commissioner Scott Furssedonn-Wood said here.

Speaking at a high-level seminar on tackling climate change, he highlighted the UK's support to Odisha on this important area through implementing models of low-carbon and climate resilient development. "Just a few months ago, we launched a programme on climate change...CCIP is funded by the UK Department For International Development under 12 million pounds technical assistance and is spread across six states of India, Odisha being one of them," Furssedonn-Wood said.

The UK looks forward to working closely with the Government of Odisha over the next few years to implement this programme, he said, adding, "we have worked together to develop models for widespread use of low carbon lighting. We have helped to develop fiscal instruments that provide the right incentives to address climate change," said Scott. "In all this, we have found the state government and others in Odisha to be excellent partners," he said.

Noting that climate change poses significant threats to Odisha, he said it was one of India's most vulnerable states with extreme climatic events like cyclones, floods and droughts, and coastal erosion affecting people's lives and livelihoods. They threatened businesses, assets and infrastructure; the availability of food and water and literally every aspect of the economy, he said.

The state recognised that and had already taken innovative steps to address it, he said, adding, Odisha had also seen that access to clean energy was critical to the state's future prosperity. The seminar was organised under the CCIP, being implemented through partnership between India's Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the UK Government Department for International Development (DFID).

Phil Marker, the Regional Programme Manager, described the initial CCIP support areas to Odisha in flood planning, solid waste management and heat islands. The discussions helped in establishing a roadmap to implement models of sustainable development in Odisha. Key areas for UK's support to state on climate vulnerability and energy access were also identified, which will help improve quality of life of people.