The Edinburgh-based scribe told this Correspondent that climate change must enter political discourse in a biodiversity rich region like North-east India because it carries multiple implications cutting across human, economic and environmental spheres.

Speaking on the sidelines of a workshop organised by the British Council

and the conservation group, Aaranyak, in Guwahati, he said that agriculture, human settlements, wildlife and forests are only some of the areas where impact of changing weather would be felt acutely.

Climate change in the region, as in some other parts of the globe, could trigger a process that manifested in irreparable harm to the natural environment, destruction of livelihood, mass migration of people, and even conflict situations involving resource use or availability.

Edwards was surprised to know that the environment was still to be a mainstream political issue in the North East and most other parts of India, where lives of millions were intertwined with soil, water and climatic conditions like the monsoons. “It is indeed very different from the scene in Scotland or England where environmental issues like climate change tops the agenda,” he remarked.

The award-winning journalist, who writes for the Sunday Herald and the much respected New Scientist, said that across the world politicians and political parties were beginning to think and act green, not as a passing fad but because they could no longer neglect the human, econmic, social and environmental costs involved.

In his view, the media has a vital role to “keep the pot boiling by coming up with news and views on the environment and climate change” to prod the government into action. Sustained media reports and analysis is a proven means to build up public opinion till politicians cannot ignore it any longer.

Investigating scams, exposing polluters, highlighting hypocrisy, encouraging positive action are some of the methods that media persons could employ to inform and educate society and policy framers. “I also favour campaign journalism if the cause is worthy, and the facts are correct,” he added.

Placing the issue of climate change in the context of the global economic downturn, the veteran journalist said that there were two distinct possibilities. With disappearing income and jobs, climate change could take a back seat in public consciousness. But, on the other hand, slowing industrial and economic growth translates into lower emissions and less pressure on valuable resources.

On carbon trading, which might involve forest rich regions like Northeast India, Edwards struck a cautious note saying that some experts actually perceived it as a scam. In Europe, the mechanism has not really helped matters, he added.