Climate change projection for Nagaland has indicated that there will be an increase of 1.60 °C to 1.80 °C in the State’s annual average temperature between 2021 and 2050.
This was stated by Science & Technology secretary, Dellirose M Sakhrie while addressing the inaugural day programme of a three-day media workshop on climate change reporting at Kohima on Monday.
Sakhrie said an intensive scientific study by North East Climate Change Adaptation Programme in 2012 confirmed that the region was suffering from the impact of climate change and its impact on people, fields and livestock was devastating and set to get worse.
Due to its unique location and topography, the study found that the region had distinct precipitation and drainage patterns, she said, adding that the Government of Nagaland had taken a very systematic and proactive approach towards the formulation of the State action plan to address climate change.
Sakhrie said media coverage of climate change could contribute significantly in shaping public perception and attitude towards the issue.
Stating that the need to disseminate scientific research and development in climate change issues to all stakeholders remained a major problem, Sakhrie felt the programme would bridge the gap between researchers, policy makers, civil societies and the public because all of them were important stake holders in combating climate change.
Held under the aegis of Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP) of the Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC) and Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, in collaboration with State’s Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, State Climate Change Cell, NASTEC and Centre for Media Studies (CMS), the workshop is being held at Hotel Japfu.
IHCAP Communication Officer Shimpy Khurana, who gave an introduction and objectives of IHCAP, said mountain ecosystem around the world were particularly vulnerable and affected by climate change. This critical situation was also affecting the Himalayas, which constitute a vital ecosystem for the Indian subcontinent, with a large population depending on them, she added.