Media Workshop on Climate Change concludes
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 13
In the process of development, the people have become more vulnerable to climate change, observed Amba Jamir of the Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) during a round table discussion here at the Hotel Japfu, Kohima on December 13.
The discussion was the concluding session of the three-day “Media Workshop on Climate Change reporting in the Himalayas” jointly organised by the Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Department of Science and Technology (DST), in collaboration with the Nagaland State Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, State Climate Change Cell, NASTEC; and Centre for Media Studies (CMS).
Terming it an “imposed development”, Jamir question its impacts on farmers in Nagaland and the adaptation measures taken. Pointing out that increasing numbers of Nagas migrating out of their villages, he reasoned that there is a need for formulating “climate smart” policies by finding and connecting the linkages locally.
Touching on Art 371A of the Indian Constitution which mandates that land and its resources belong to the people, Jamir argued that the Naga people have the added responsibility to ensure that its use of resources are sustainable.
“We have a responsibility by virtue of being landowners to ensure that we do things in a sustainable manner,” he insisted.
Sustainable measures, he said, would mean changes in our lifestyles, consumption patterns, waste productions etc.
While stating that there is no one time solution to the problem, Jamir called on civil societies to act as a bridge and work with the government to frame policies based on micro-evidence.
Dinesh Sharma, Managing Editor of India Science Wire, stated that climate science is an evolving subject that needs constant updating, and in this regard, called on the media to highlight the gap in knowledge by connecting the impacts of climate change at the global level to the local level.
Similarly, he also called on the government to take into account best practices in the region and at the same time make data available.
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