Ahmedabad: Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) has set up a 15-member research wing to study the climate changes in the state.GEER was recently awarded the project by forest and environment department.CN Pandey,director of GEER,said a research unit comprising scientists and researchers have been formed for the project.The data prepared would not only form a base for future studies but would also be a cut off for the comparisons in future.
Two committees of experts,with members other than GEER researchers,have also been formed under the project.The task of the committee is to oversee the project and also evolve a methodology for it.Officials said that the 15-member team is already out in the field carrying out the research.To create awareness among the villagers,GEER has launched a new radio programme,Dharti Nu Jatan,under this climate change project,they said.
The programme is aimed to educate people and create awareness about climate change among them,youth in particular.The programme has received good response from the listeners across the state.Officials said that apart from other studies,the unit would study the Green House Gases (GHG) emissions and global warming,GHG emissions of Gujarat and modelling its future trends,effects of climate change on major eco-systems of Gujarat and impact of global warming on disaster patterns in Gujarat.
This is the first such comprehensive project taken up by the state government after it formed a department of climate change.Set up in February 2009,the department is headed by Chief Minister Narendra Modi and is to give a human face to environmental issues;empower people to become active agents of sustainable development;promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues;and advocate partnership,which will ensure that every citizen of Gujarat enjoys a safer and more prosperous future.
