As the urgency of the climate crisis intensifies, resources need to be focused on the most effective solutions.
Climate action is gaining traction around the world. Science is exhorting governments and businesses to do more because there is growing evidence of the devastating impacts on ecosystems as well as humans. As the urgency of the climate crisis intensifies, resources need to be focused on the most effective solutions. There is enough evidence that such solutions exist, in theory as well as in practice. However, the most appropriate solutions need to be deliberated and then adopted in specific contexts.
With this spirit, ahead of the Glasgow COP26, a two-day Uttar Pradesh Climate Change Conclave (UPCCC) was organized in Lucknow. The Conclave deliberated topical issues with special focus on India in general and UP in particular. The event was aimed at successfully responding to the challenges of climate change via multi-stakeholder engagement, building upon on the response to these changes by process of integration, adaptation, collaboration, and mitigation at local levels. UPCCC 2021 brought together researchers, scientists, policymakers and practitioners from the State, India and abroad. The UPCCC included an Exhibition on Climate Change & Clean Environment which provided an excellent platform to solutions seekers and solution providers to exchange on latest technological and technical advancements.
The Conclave could take the credit for many firsts in mobilizing support and accelerating climate action at a sub-national level. First, it brought together stakeholders who have disparate priorities but a clear commitment to climate action. Second, the event practiced what it preached by offsetting the entire emissions generated and became a ‘Carbon Neutral Event’. Nearly 42,600 trees have been planted in about a dozen places to offset the 70 tonnes of carbon emission directly attributable to the event. Third, the event launched a carbon footprint calculator for the citizens of the state to calculate and effectively offset their emissions. For such offsetting programmes but also in alignment with the state priorities, the state government has pioneered standardization of Miyawaki Forestation Technique. This technique brings back the natural forests and ensures enhanced carbon sequestration apart from being a very effective air and noise pollution sinks. Miyawaki Forests have been developed in almost all agro-climatic zones of the State and the DoEF&CC has issued a Government Order for development of Miyawaki Forest by all industrial units in the State. The State is also creating a Miyawaki Helpline, a panel of Certified Miyawaki Forest Professionals, to provide technical guidance for development of Miyawaki Forests.
The partnerships and discussions initiated at the conclave have already led to the development of concrete interventions. For instance, based on the discussion on market mechanisms for climate action during the conclave, the state government has initiated the process for carbon financing of agroforestry sector. With an objective of providing benefits to agroforestry farmers through voluntary carbon market mechanism, MoUs are being signed among the Forest & Wildlife department, TERI and VNV Advisory Services Private Limited.
The Conclave forms part of a holistic drive for climate change action in Uttar Pradesh. The first element of this strategy is developing an effective and implementable state action plan, in alignment with the Nationally Determined Contributions. Due to its high reliance on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water, and forestry for resources and livelihoods, Uttar Pradesh faces an urgent need for adapting to the risks posed by climate change. The state has been making significant efforts over the years to bring adaptation issues to the forefront. As part of its State Action Plan on Climate Change, UP has done a comprehensive assessment on climate risk vulnerability and has prepared a climate vulnerability map of the State.
The second element of the strategy is to take climate action to the grassroot level. Informed by this vulnerability assessment, the state has now embarked on mainstreaming climate adaptation at the local planning level. In line with the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, Panchayati Raj Institutions and the Gram Panchayats represent the lowest level of the decentralized governance system. They already have a mandate for the development of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP). Communities are at the forefront of getting impacted by the changing climate. At the same time, effective community institutions are the first responders to such impacts. Therefore, it is important that their capacities are strengthened. Locally available resources like ecosystem services, schemes and programmes, knowledge and skills are important in such resilient planning. In this context, the UP Government has initiated the process for development of risk informed and climate & disaster resilient gram panchayat development plans. Further, the UP Government has also developed capacity building & training modules to strengthen capacities of vulnerable target groups and their intermediaries (community-based and self-help groups, panchayats, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) and farmers associations/ cooperatives). Strengthening of such capacities will support mainstreaming of climate action in developmental plans by linking local adaptation needs to agencies and programs through strengthened intermediary organizations.
The third element of the overall strategy is to develop individual and institutional capacities for climate science and knowledge management. Several initiatives are being taken to take this agenda forward. First, the SDG Vision Document of UP envisages the establishment of State Knowledge Centre on Climate Change (SKCCC) under the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC). The State Knowledge Centre will support the Department by identifying climate sensitive and vulnerable sectors through best available risk assessments and propose state specific adaptation and mitigation initiatives. The State Knowledge Centre shall articulate and act as a functional knowledge centre, catering to the information and knowledge needs of policy makers, scientific community, and public on climate change issues through tailor made outreach programs. Second, for effective knowledge management, a UP Knowledge Portal on Clean Environment and Climate Action is being developed. The portal will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange and provide real time updates on various environmental parameters of interest to the citizenry. Third, to develop and enhance capacities of the officers of the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the State has also initiated an In-House Research Programme taking up research, case studies, value chain analysis etc. in the field of Climate Change based upon their vast experiences. Fourth, the Government has also initiated ‘Climate Samvad’ program for mainstreaming of climate actions aimed at providing knowledge to the various stakeholders regarding the key issues to ensure effective implementation of climate actions.
The UPCCC was a landmark event in providing impetus to climate action in UP. It forged many conversations as well as partnerships. At the same time, its success lies in it being embedded in a larger strategic vision. The success of the larger strategic vision will continue to be evaluated in the next conclave in 2022 as it will now be an annual feature. Much like the annual COP, we believe the UPCCC will continue to capture the imagination of climate enthusiasts in UP and beyond.
[author title=”Manoj Singh, Ashish Tiwari, Ashish Chaturvedi, Kirtiman Awasthi and Manas Dwivedi” image=”http://”]Manoj Singh and Ashish Tiwari are the Additional Chief Secretary and Secretary respectively of the Department of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of UP. Ashish Chaturvedi, Kirtiman Awasthi and Manas Dwivedi work with the German Agency for International Cooperation, GIZ, which supports the Government of UP on Climate Action through the Indo German Bilateral Project, Climate Adaptation and Finance in Rural India.[/author]
