VARANASI: The SAARC Consultation Workshop on 'Implementation of Thimpu Statement on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction' was inaugurated at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) premises on Thursday. The three-day workshop is being jointly organised by SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC), New and United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), Geneva.
During this occasion, aiming to implement Thimpu Statement on Climate Change, a comprehensive document on policy, institutional landscape and resource allocation for climate change adaptations and disaster management in the SAARC countries, prepared by scholars of Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development (IESD), BHU, was also presented before the representative states, experts and environmentalists.
Dr RK Mall of IESD, BHU and organising secretary of the workshop said that "This is the first document on climate change and disaster management prepared comprehensively for SAARC countries and is a major step ahead for the implementation of Thimpu Statement. This document would help the South Asian countries to develop and adopt strategies and coordinate with each other to prevent the hazards turning into disaster.
Almost all the South Asian countries are at present vulnerable to climate change. The study outcomes will raise awareness among policy makers, local bodies, researchers and experts to develop planning and investment allocation in SAARC countries". The document will also be sent to the officials at United Nations for further implementation.
Director, SDMC, New Delhi Prof Santosh Kumar said that droughts, floods, cyclones, sea level rise and increase in temperature are the challenges for south Asian countries as they are vulnerable for such disasters. He also explained the need for collective work of SAARC countries to reduce these risks for future and suggested participatory approach for solving the problems of disaster risk reduction. Prof Kumar also said that India has excellent early forecasting system but what is lacking to reduce the disaster risks is the coordination among different departments.
Former home secretary and member of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), VK Duggal who was present as chief guest on the occasion emphasised the need of mutual cooperation and sharing of experiences of all the members of SAARC countries.
Registrar, BHU and geophysicist, Prof GS Yadav, director, IESD, Prof AS Raghubanshi and several participants from member state and institutions were present on the occasion. Several panel discussions, group presentation and recommendations will also be made by the experts during the workshop which will culminate on August 31.
