Bhubaneswar: Climate change or global warming is one of the biggest issues facing human society right now. The consequences on human society are very alarming and its impact on agriculture and the environment is quite harmful.
Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change has said that protecting water, forests and land from the ill effects of climate change is very important. Rajib Sekhar Sahoo, Chairman ICC Odisha Branch chaired the Meeting.
Inaugurating the 4th Climate Change Conference organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (Indian Chamber of Commerce) Odisha branch here today, Minister Shri Singh Khuntia said that like all other countries of the world, India has also become a victim of climate change or global warming.
Devastating heat, heavy rains and frequent cyclones are throwing life out of gear. Odisha has also faced many natural calamities. The air quality index (AQI) of some cities in Odisha has also reached alarming levels. Therefore, a reduction in carbon emissions is essential.
It is a matter of assurance that 5 crore 20 lakh trees have been planted in the country under the ‘Ek Pad, Maa Ke Naam’ campaign in our state. If more and more forests can be created, environmental pollution can be prevented. Land reclamation is a significant challenge at present. Rapid urbanisation, expansion of industrialization and increase in mining are making land reclamation difficult. We all need to be committed to preventing land degradation, improving soil health and effective management of waste. The sustainable climate programme in the state will be possible with the joint efforts of agriculture, transport, steel and mines and forest departments.
India has now emerged as the fifth largest economy in the world and is set to become the third largest economy by 2030. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has set a target of building a developed Odisha by 2036. Odisha will be the best state of the purvodaya. In order to achieve this huge achievement, we have to collectively deal with the crisis of climate change so that future generations get justice, the Forest Minister opined.
A T Singh, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India was the Guest of Honour.
He added that due to the rapid growth of population, our country is likely to be more affected by climate change. Land reclamation, water scarcity, food security are the challenges today and these problems will intensify in the next decade. Therefore, emphasis should be laid on improving the ecosystem, use of technology in agriculture.
Prem Kumar Jha, Director, Environment and Special Secretary, Dr. K. Murugesan, Member Secretary, Odisha State Pollution Control Board, Dr. N. R Sahu, Coordinator, ESH Committee, ICC Odisha State Council, Shri Rajeeb Sahoo Chairman, ICC Odisha State Council, Rajesh Kanungo, Member, ESH Committee, ICC Odisha State Council, Managing Director of SNM Group Prabodh Mohanty, Malay Kumar Pradhan, Deputy Director, Directorate of Factories and Evaporators were present on the occasion.