Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change launched in Meghalaya

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today launched a 'Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change' which aims to engage government departments and civil societies to address the issue of climate change.

Dedicating the centre to the people of this north eastern state, the Chief Minister said, 'I believe that this centre can be a source of knowledge and data that will benefit not only Meghalaya but also its neighbouring North Eastern states and countries like Bangladesh.'

The centre has launched in cooperation and technical support from the German Development Cooperation through the climate change adaptation programme in the North East Region.

According to the Chief Minister, the impact of climate change has hit the orange cultivation in Garo hills region of the state.

'We need to re-strategize our approach towards adapting to climate change,' he said urging participation from cross sections of the society in ensuring sustainable development.

In his speech at the inaugural event, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Head of Division South Asia, Dr Thomas Helfen said one billion US dollar has been projected for the North Eastern Region for sustainable development.

He said the state government in its state action plan on Climate Change has highlighted the problem of limited and fragmented knowledge related to climate change that is available at the state level as an important cross cutting issue.

'Climate change calls for informed and integrated decision making. Compartmentalised sectoral knowledge and data is just not enough in the face of threats posed by climate change,' he stated.

Elaborating on the project, Dr Thomas, 'The Centre for Adaptation to Climate change is an important step to improve data collection, data use, timely dissemination and management.