Need concerted efforts to save environment: AK Sinha
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 22 2025: Forest and Environment & Climate Change Principal Secretary Arun Kumar Sinha has urged for launching a people's movement and putting pressure on the government for the protection and conservation of the environment for the sake of future generations.

A one-day media workshop on the topic of 'Media as Force Multiplier for Climate Change' was jointly organised by the Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) and the directorate of environment and climate change at the Imperial Hall of Classic Grande, Chingmeirong, on Saturday.

Addressing the event as the chief guest, Arun Kumar Sinha stated that the media plays an important role in mitigating climate change.

Need concerted efforts to save environment: AK Sinha

He urged the media to help the masses understand climate change and its effects in layman's terms.

He continued that there are still some who firmly believe that climate change is bogus.

"However, the reality is right before our eyes.

Thus, we need to work together to deal with this growing issue," he urged.

He continued that technological changes are one of the many factors contributing to environmental degradation.

The frequent occurrences of floods, drying up of rivers, and other issues are affecting all living organisms.

As such, there is a need for concerted efforts to prevent the same in the interest of future generations, he asserted.

Arun then said that the department has taken up various initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as the Eco Model Carbon Positive Village Project under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change, the Solarisation Project at JNIMS Hospital under the Rooftop Solar Project of the Government of India, the distribution of 65 electric autos under the E-Mobility Project, and projects to utilise solar energy.

In addition, apart from opening the State Climate Change Cell, Automated Weather Stations have been set up in all districts, and media fellowships have been offered as part of the mitigation efforts.

Delivering the keynote speech, EGM secretary Rupachandra Yumnam said that climate change is a global issue and would be difficult to solve without good governance.

In this regard, the media plays an important role in drawing the attention of elected leaders, he remarked.

He continued that the media is the only platform for disseminating information to the masses and conveying the opinions of the masses to the government.

Both reporters and those working at the desk to process the reports filed by reporters play a vital role in providing a clear account to the people.

As such, the workshop was organised as part of EGM's efforts to upskill those working at the desk, he added.

Various resource persons spoke on different topics during the technical session of the workshop, which was moderated by senior journalist A Mobi.

Manipur University economics department retired professor E Bijoykumar spoke on the topic 'Impact of Climate Change on the Economy' .

He said that the magnitude of climate change beyond the next few decades will depend primarily on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted globally and the remaining uncertainty in the sensitivity of the Earth's climate to those emissions.

Sharing literature on the patterns and trends of the impact of climate change on socio-economic indicators, including economic growth, agricultural productivity, poverty, food security, health, water resources, and the energy sector both globally and regionally, he said that the impacts are expected to become increasingly disruptive in the coming decades.

He continued that while the economy-environment link has been well investigated, the relationship remains shrouded in ambiguity because context, variability in temperature patterns, technological evolution, and countries' adaptive capacities, among other factors, play a significant mediating role.

Studies agree that the impact of climate change on economic output would be negative but differ in terms of the magnitude of that impact.

To date, there are still debates on whether the projected impact of climate change on economic outcomes is linear or nonlinear, and this introduces uncertainty in policy development.

Studies providing evidence of the nonlinear concave effect of climate change on economic growth have suggested that additional global warming, while stimulating growth in cooler areas, will reduce growth in hotter regions.

Developing economies are at the highest risk, whereas developed economies are more likely to experience gains, he added.

He also cited a simulation study by Valenzuela and Anderson (2011) which revealed that in an optimistic scenario with slow population growth, there will be fast income growth and slow growth in greenhouse gas emissions, while in a pessimistic scenario with fast population growth, there will be slow income growth and fast growth in greenhouse gas emissions.

An intermediate case between both scenarios is also possible.

Imphal Review of Arts and Politics (IRAP) editor Pradip Phanjoubam spoke on the topic 'Media and Climate Change', highlighting the need to focus not only on the effects of climate change on humans but also on other species, from the smallest insect to the largest animal on the planet.

He also stressed the need for main taining the delicate natural balance, citing the example of Yellowstone National Park, USA, where the extermination of predatory wolves led to an explosion in the deer population, which decimated the park's green cover.

After the wolves were reintroduced, the deer population came under control, and the forest cover was restored along with the presence of other species essential to the ecosystem.

Speaking on the topic of 'State Climate Policy', environment and climate change direc -tor Dr T Brajakumar informed that as per the WMO and NASA, 2024 has been confirmed as the warmest year since the 1880s, with 2020 coming in second place after 2016.He continued that climate change is a natural phenomenon; however, human-induced activities have sped up the phenomenon, outpacing nature's natural healing process.

There is a need to maintain a natural balance in all aspects.

As per the Climate Risk Index, India is one of the most affected countries in the last three decades.

Thus, he stressed the urgent need for stronger climate resilience and action.

He informed that Manipur has experienced high-intensity rainfall over short periods, making it vulnerable to water-induced disasters and drought-like situations.

A vulnerability study conducted in 2011 found Chandel to be the most vulnerable district, followed by Churachandpur and Tamenglong.

Since most farmers in the state depend on rainfall, this is a worrisome situation.

It is projected that by the 2030s, there will be an increase in rainfall with high intensity.

Another risk assessment found that Imphal East and West, Bishnupur, and Thoubal districts are most susceptible to flood hazards, while Imphal East and West, Pherzawl, Churachandpur, and Senapati districts are prone to drought-like situations.

Explaining the quantified and non-quantified goals, Dr Brajakumar said that in the context of Manipur, the focus is on non-quantified goals such as promoting a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions ('LIFE' - Lifestyle for Environment), adopting a climate-friendly and cleaner path of economic development, enhancing investments in vulnerable sectors, mobilising domestic and additional funds, and building capacities for the quick diffusion of cutting-edge climate technology.

Thus, the director said, the first step should be reducing vulnerability and exposure to present climate variability and adapting strategies and projects for climate-resilient agriculture, water resources, health, and forest sectors.

Presided over by EGM president Khogendra Khomdram, the workshop was attended by All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) president Bijoy Kakchingtabam, and Manipur Hill Journalsits' Union (MHJU) president Peter Adani as guests of honour.