Faith-based institutions in Manipur will now play a crucial role in coming up with adaptation strategy and effective action plan in the wake of challenge posed by climate change which calls for extraordinary vision, leadership, compassion and wisdom. Director, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Govt of Manipur, Dr. T. Brajakumar announced the inclusion of faith-based institutions as a vital stakeholder at the closing of the 2nd Faith-Based Leaders Meet on Climate Action held at the Directorate Complex in Porompat, Imphal East District on Saturday afternoon.
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Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur in association with MIKC (Mountain Indigenous Knowledge Centre) and MBC (Manipur Baptist Convention) organized the two-day workshop for finding pathways at local level of the state as adaptation is becoming increasingly urgent for the hill residents. The workshop held on the theme “Enhancing Resilience and Nature Based Solution” began on November 24. It was organized with an objective of sharing and understanding climate facts, more on resilient climate action and bridging the gaps between Research, Policy and Practices. It also aimed at sharing local adaptation initiatives against the impact of climate variability and to identify Climate Resilient Model villages for replication or for up-scaling such best practices.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. T. Brajakumar said, ‘Revision and review of existing policies of threat-based institutions’ must be taken as an immediate action plan. Acknowledging that church, as an institution, plays a pivotal role not only in the development of one’s spirituality but also in the social and economic aspect, he called upon church leaders for their active participation in mobilizing people especially, youths and women in saving the environment. He assured that the directorate will look into bridging the research gap on Jhum cultivation and also highlighted various other activities that it will be taking up in association with faith-based institutions in the near future.
Dr. T. Brajakumar who will be representing the Himalayan States of India in the upcoming COP28, Dubai, UAE 2023 expressed concern over the rising global warming as some parts of the country have recorded temperature as high as 49 Degree Celsius and in Manipur’s Chandel, Moreh have recorded temperature as high as 42 to 43 Degree Celsius and 40 plus Degree Celsius in Noney. He urged everyone for collective efforts for the sake of future generations keeping in mind that the world is far from securing a global temperature rise to below 2°C as promised in the Paris Agreement (IPCC, 2023).
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Sharing of Success stories from Dailong village, Kalhang Village, Sadim Pukhri Village and Phayeng village, highlighting the Role of Faith based Institution and Women institution on Climate policy, Role of media on Climate Change and Way forward for Climate change, Talk on Socio-Economic Pathway in Manipur, Group exercise, presentations and panel discussions made the two-day event. Salam Rajesh, Member IUCN CEESP, Dr. Hanjabam Isworchandra Sharma, Associate Professor, Economics Department, Manipur University (Research Expert) and Thingreiphi Lungharwo, President, TSL (Practitioner) were the resource persons.
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Representatives from MBC (Manipur Baptist Convention), DSSS (Diocesan Social Service Society), SDA (Seventh-Day Adventist), TSL (Tangkhul Shanao Long), MIKC (Mountain Indigenous Knowledge Centre) Ukhrul, VVD, Ukhrul, Media Fellow Recipients on Climate Change Reporting and other Organizations, Directorate officials and staff attended the event.
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