By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Stressing on the need to re-strategize the approach towards adapting to climate change, Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma on Friday stated that orange cultivation in Garo hills has been hit hard due to the impact of climate change.
The Chief Minister made the assertion while inaugurating the Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change at Cleve Colony in the city on Friday.
Pointing out that Shillong can be the epicentre of activities and knowledge with regards to adaptation to climate change, the Chief Minister said the centre can be a source of knowledge and data that will benefit not only Meghalaya but also its neighbouring states and countries.
According to Dr. Sangma, the upcoming centre will conduct fresh research besides leveraging upon the existing data and researches that have emerged over the years.
“With the convergence of these data, knowledge and past experiences, the issue would be addressed in the right perspective,” the Chief Minister observed.
It may be mentioned that the Centre is a joint initiative of the Meghalaya Government and the German Development Cooperation through the climate change adaptation programme in the North East Region.
Earlier, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Head of Division South Asia, Dr Thomas Helfen, informed that one billion US dollar has been projected for the North Eastern Region for sustainable development under the programme for the North Eastern Region.
“Climate change calls for informed and integrated decision making. Compartmentalized sectoral knowledge and date is just not enough in the face of threats posed by climate change,” he stated.
Dr Helfen was also of the view that the Centre for Adaptation to Climate change is an important step to improve data collection, data use, timely dissemination and management and the centre is envisaged to bridge the knowledge gap of information on observed and projected climate change scenarios, sectoral impacts, forecast of extreme events, vulnerability assessments, in order to strengthen the resilience of developmental efforts.”
He further informed that the first project on the assessment of climate and land use change impacts on land and water resources in the Umiam River Basin was kicked off in cooperation with the University of Jena (Germany) and local research institutions.