Need to devise contigency plan for climate change: Chowdary

Union Minister Y S Chowdary today batted for a contigency plan to deal with the problem of climate change and also ensuring economic sutainability while addressing the issue.
"The million dollar question is how do we strategise the action on mitigation. I am of the view that we need to devise and put in place a contingency climate resilient plan. Climate has no regional barrier, it is a global issue. We need to address in totality.
"Besides this, a well thought out strategy should also be implemented. This is desirable that we keep the most vulunerable communities in mind," the Minister of State for Earth Sciences said while speaking at conference on climate change organised by ASSOCHAM.

The National Action Plan on Climate Change has been adopted by India to address the issues of mitigation and adaptation, the minister said.
"The government has identified eight core missions. Three of them are solar energy, afforestation and energy efficiency and slowing down the increase in emissions. The other three are agriculture, water and Himalayan eco-system. We have a focus on launching appropriate measures to adapt to the adverse impact of climate change," he said.
The remaining two are sustainable habitat and strategic habitat to seek and create more knowledge and building effective climate responses and policies, Chowdary added.

The minister, however, noted it was also essential to keep economic sustainability in mind while chalking out the plan and this requires an intergrated approach not only form the government but also from the private players and civil society.

"Economic sustainability is very important and how are we going to achieve that? It cannot be done by one government or, NGO or one bank. An integrated approach is required here. That's where the corporates can come out either for the purpose of profit making or for CSR.
"The Central government, the state government, bankers and the NGOs can join together and work out various models," Chowdary said.