The Assam government is spearheading a robust, multi-pronged strategy to combat climate change, revealing significant progress through completed research and a wide-ranging action plan. This information was officially disclosed by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in a written reply to CPM MLA Manoranjan Talukdar.
Completed and Ongoing Climate Research
The state has already successfully concluded six crucial research projects. These include a comprehensive district-level vulnerability assessment for Assam, which is vital for identifying region-specific risks, and the innovative practice of green budget tagging for various departmental schemes, projects, and policies.
Building on this foundation, nine additional projects are currently in progress. Key initiatives underway are the development of a State of Environment Report for Assam, a study for creating a Flood Management Plan that prioritizes Blue-Green Interventions, a project focused on Building a Climate-Resilient Dibrugarh Town, and research into Decarbonisation Pathways for the state.
The Backbone: Assam's Climate Action Plan 2.0
These research efforts are guided by the Assam State Action Plan on Climate Change (Version 2.0, 2021-2030). This critical document received formal approval from the national steering committee on climate change under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on February 16 last year in Delhi.
Minister Patowary emphasized that the plan was formulated through extensive consultations with 31 different departments of the Assam government. Following its approval, the Assam Climate Change Management Society (ACCMS) disseminated the plan to all concerned departments for execution.
The scale of the plan is extensive, covering 211 distinct action plans organized under 36 strategic areas. These actions span vital sectors including agriculture and allied activities, energy, water resources, forests and biodiversity, health, urban and rural habitats, disaster mitigation, and education.
Coordinated Implementation and Public Awareness
To ensure effective execution, the state government established the Assam Climate Change Management Society (ACCMS) under the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. This body is the central node for coordination, working through designated nodal officers from 42 departments and government institutions.
Beyond research, ACCMS is actively engaged in enhancing awareness and building capacity. The society has been conducting numerous meetings and workshops for both government officials and the public. To date, 70 workshops have been organized, successfully raising climate change awareness among approximately 6,700 individuals. This diverse group includes senior state and district-level officials, district council officers, panchayat members, and members of women's self-help groups.
This concerted effort underscores Assam's commitment to a data-driven and collaboratively implemented approach in its fight against the impacts of climate change.
