Combined measures can tackle Assam climate change

Rise in seasonal temperatures and decrease in rainfall characterise climate change in Assam and experts have called for a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures under the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) to tackle it.
Between 1950 to 2010 the mean temperature in Assam has increased by 0.01 Celsius per year with the seasonal temperatures showing an increasing trend and the warming being more pronounced in the post-monsoon and winter seasons, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Biodiversity and Climate Change) A K Johari said at an interaction here.
Decrease in annual rainfall is reported to be 0.96 mm per year and variations have been also observed in the number of rainy days and 24 hour maximum rainfall.

"SAPCC envisages a sustainable and climate resilient development path with a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures focussing on research, appropriate technology, capacity creation and governance," he said.
It has identified state-specific risks and impacts in the context of climate change. Its six thrust areas are sustainable livelihood, natural disasters, health, bio-resources, urban planning and energy.
Johari said that there are two ways in which climate change can be handled. "First is adaptation, which means if climate change is happening then what do we do to cope with it. The second is mitigation which means trying to remove the cause of climate change. The best way for it is by planting more trees."

Development agency Action on Climate Today (ACT)'s Assam team leader Rizwan Uz Zamam said stressed on the need to adjust with the changes in the climatic situations to reduce its impact as well as to utilize the opportunities.

"The impact of climate change is more pronounced at the grassroot level. The low income groups are highly vulnerable as their livelihoods are directly affected by it," he said.
Poverty, lack of exposure and awareness increase their vulnerability and so planning for adaptation should be initiated from the local level of governance with everyone sharing their inputs in the process.
This would also help in incorporating traditional knowledge and experiences into the planning system, he added.

ACT, which is supporting the state government to move forward with the SAPCC, has chalked out an integrated approach to improve climate change adaptation capacities, smart water resource management and planning to ensure climate resilience for the well-being of citizens, Zaman added.