The impact of climate change in Himachal and the critical need for understanding vulnerability, so as to initiate measures to combat climate change and help mitigate its impact, was underlined by the experts at a two-day state level Media Workshop on climate change that concluded here on Wednesday.

The media workshop was organized by Centre for Media Studies (CMS), Delhi in collaboration with German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), which witnessed participation of media persons from various parts of the state.

GIZ, Climate Change Senior Policy Advisor KirtimanAwasthi maintained that the need for organizing such event is to encourage capacity building of media persons and for their better understanding so that they are able to cover climate change with the much needed sensitivity.

The workshop emphasised the need for media coverage so as to help in percolating the right message at the ground level, amongst the masses, so that besides, the efforts of the government and the policy makers, the local people are also motivated to initiate measures to mitigate climate change at their own level.

Speaking on the occasion India Science Wire Managing Editor Dinesh C Sharma highlighted the need for enriching the news stories on climate change with community experiences, expert views and data collected to corroborate it, so that the true picture is communicated to the audience.

The Department of Environment, Science and Technology through their presentation on State Action Plan on Climate Change and Government initiatives presented the scenario of climate change and its impact.

“The state government is adopting strategy and action plan on climate change, focusing on main issues of concern that is being affected due to the emerging threat of climate change,”said Dr. Suresh C Attri Principal Scientific Officer, Department of Environment, Science and Technology.

He disclosed about the Himachal’s Green Growth and sustainable development programme in assistance with the World Bank and the pilot studies prepared for district Kullu that include reducing GLOF risk in Parvati valley, promoting climate resilient agri-horticulture in Banjar and ecosystem based adaptation in the great Himalayan National Park.

He maintained that the implementation of various adaptation projects needed huge investment and efforts by the various departments of the state government.

Others who addressed the workshop included India Metrological Department, Himachal Pradesh Director Manmohan Singh with his presentation ‘Trends of changing climate in Himachal Pradesh’, Dr. Y S Parmar UHF Nauni, Solan, Head Department of Environmental Studies Dr. S K Bhardwaj with his presentation Impact of climate change on Apple Production’.

Director, department of Environment Science and Technology, Archana Sharma addressed the issues raised by media during the workshop.

A field visit to Dhamoonpanchyat, in Shimla district was also organized for the media, which is taking a lead by being adaptive to climate change for sustainable farming.