The Environment Protection Training Research Institute (EPTRI) in partnership with GIZ has launched a multi-level ‘Capacity Building Programmes on Climate Change Adaptation’ in the State of Telangana under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) – GIZ bilateral technical programme on ‘Climate Change Adaptation in Rural Areas of India (CCA-RAI)’ and National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change Department of Science & technology, Government of India for further mainstreaming climate change into sectoral planning process and strengthen capacity and enhance knowledge on climate issues. The project workshop was inaugurated by Dr. S. K. Joshi, IAS Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana and informed that the project is useful to the state in building up the capacities on climate Change in the state. The workshop was attended by Sri B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, IAS, Director General, EPTRI, Dr. Ashish Chaturvedi, Director, NRM & Climate Change, GIZ, and senior Principal Secretaries from HMDA, Agriculture, Energy, Forest department, scientists from EPTRI, ICRISAT, officials from NABARD etc.
B. Kalyan Chakravarthy, IAS, Director General informed that project intends to strengthen adaptation response at the state level by implementing Training and capacity building, Demonstration Project and Knowledge Management. He further said that capacity building programmes on, Sensitization programme for senior officials of the state, State level sectoral training programme, District/Panchayat level training programme on community level CCA measures, Training Programme on mainstreaming gender on CCA measures for women SHG and Master Trainers Programme for academics, students, NGOs.
The launch event was marked by a Round Table Discussion on Climate Change Adaptation with policy makers. Speaking at the launch event, Dr. Ashish Chaturvedi, Director- Climate Change, GIZ presented detailed plan of the capacity building program focusing on stakeholders from village to the state department level as well as key initiative in the State being implemented as part of Indo-German Technical Cooperation on Climate Change like development of SAPCC investment plan and water sector impact and vulnerability assessment. The focus capacity building programme is to strengthen capacities of key stakeholders—government officials at the State and district level, NGOs and PRI members in Telangana about climate change concerns in the priority sectors like water, agriculture and forests and addressing the same effectively through evidence based adaptation planning and implementation as well as designing projects for accessing climate finance.
Mr. Kirtiman Awasthi, Senior Advisor, GIZ presented findings of the report on State Investment Plan on Climate Change for Telangana which highlights the climate relevant expenditure by state, priority projects for investment and potential national and international sources of funding that can be accessed. Dr AK Gosain from IIT Delhi while presenting GIZ supported climate change impact and vulnerability assessment highlighted impact on water resources and need for adaptation actions to address climate change related impacts. A plan to implement climate smart agriculture with block level analysis was also presented by ICRISAT.
The event also included presentations from EPTRI Director General B Kalyan Chakravarthy, IAS and his team on activities of EPTRI related to climate change adaptation in rural areas of Mahbubnagar district with funding from the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC), green skills, new technologies for water treatment, improving efficiency of diesel and petrol vehicles was presented. A presentation on Environmental and Climate Change indicators for different departments that would include targets for each department was also included. The aim of the implementation of the indicators will be to improve liveability, quality of life and attract investments to the state. A plan for setting up of urban parks and conservation of forests in the state was also presented by the state forest department. Enhancing Climatic Resilience for Hyderabad metropolitan area by sustainable Management of Urban Reserve Forest ecosystems
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