Environment experts deliberate on climate related loss at Env Ministry workshop

A senior official in the PMO Tuesday described the 2018 Kerala floods as "rarest of the rare" events and said India has been experiencing weather and climate related loss and damage.

Speaking at a workshop organised by the environment ministry on National Consultation on Loss and Damage, P K Mishra, Additional Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, identified five principle challenges that need to be addressed.

"Five principal challenges need to be addressed, including the need to understand not only the total quantum of loss but also its location, as well as impact on gender and social groups, the need to go beyond what is easier to measure, such as biodiversity loss, ecosystem services etc., address the attribution of the loss and damage, generate scenarios for future situations and invest in adaptive capacities," Mishra said while inaugurating the workshop.

The workshop was organised to deliberate on the emerging approaches to assess, minimize and address climate-related loss and damage.

Addressing the conference, C K Mishra, Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change highlighted that green house gas (GHG) emissions have been talked about many times, but the discourse needs to move to critical elements and systematic planning.

He urged the global community to come up with a global plan to address the issue loss and damage.

He added that global experience is good for knowledge and learning, but the country needs to bring in its own policies and recommendations as it has a diverse geography.

The workshop was also attended by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, who mentioned that the topic of loss and damage has become a major pillar of international negotiations and has gained importance since COP 19 held in Poland's capital Warsaw.

He highlighted that India, being "bigger than 23 European countries" and having a higher rate of growth and population, is facing greater challenges as compared to developed countries.

"The need to follow low carbon sustainable pathway, poverty alleviation and addressing climate change impacts are to be prioritized," he said.