Patna: A feedback meeting on ‘Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Pathway’ was organised under the chairmanship of Bandana Preyashi, Secretary, Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
On this occasion, the objectives of the meeting were clarified by the Secretary and experts, academicians and civil society representatives were requested to give their suggestions and views regarding the draft report.
She said that “Bihar stands as a leading state in the country in the effort to pave a path towards low carbon emissions in various sectors. A lot of hard work, extensive study and analysis of available data went into preparing the draft report. The state government intends for it to become a policy document that various departments will adopt, implement, and monitor at the highest level.
S. Chandrashekhar, Member Secretary, Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), underlined the collaborative efforts between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and BSPCB, which were incorporated into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in February 2021. The objective was to formulate strategies for a ‘climate clean, resilient and low carbon growth path for Bihar’. He announced that the study led to the creation of a draft strategy report, now available for public and stakeholder feedback and suggestions. This meeting serves as a continuation of that concerted effort.
Discussing the recommendations outlined within an improved climate-resilient and low-carbon pathway for Bihar, Divya Dutt, Deputy Country Head, UNEP India, said that “the strategy aims to ensure seamless integration of the recommendations into existing policies under existing initiatives and schemes. In addition, it also presents recommendations for better climate management and low carbon emissions in the long term (up to 2070) by 2050, including necessary initiatives at the structural and institutional level.
Giving a presentation on climate-resilient and low-carbon strategies, Mani Bhushan Jha, senior programme associate, WRI India, said the prepared report sets out mitigation and adaptation strategies in sectors including power, transport, waste, buildings, industry, agriculture, and forests, followed by scientific analysis of data from disaster management, water and human health and a primary survey of more than 35,000 people as well as visits to all 38 districts.
Experts and representatives from various institutions and organisations, including NIT Patna, Central University of South Bihar, Nalanda University, Tata-Cornell Institute, Chandragupta Institute of Management Patna, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, and Piramal Foundation, shared feedback at the meeting.
Concluding the session, Dr. Naveen Kumar, Senior Scientist, BSPCB, expressed gratitude and invited further feedback or suggestions on the draft report of Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development Pathways for Bihar, directed to Bihar, through email to CRLCDP@gmail.com or by submitting it to the office of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board by April 12.
