Odisha Government Signs Essential MoUs to Combat Climate Change
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Synopsis
On January 22, the Odisha FE&CC Department signed three pivotal agreements to address climate change challenges, enhance sustainable livelihoods, and protect the state's biodiversity and coastal ecosystems. Key partnerships include IIT Bhubaneswar, the World Food Programme, and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water.
Key Takeaways
- Odisha signed three critical MoUs to combat climate change.
- Partnerships aim to promote sustainable livelihoods.
- IIT Bhubaneswar will support coastal ecosystem restoration.
- Focus on vulnerable farming communities in Nuapada district.
- Development of a Net-Zero Roadmap for Odisha.
Bhubaneswar, Jan 22 (NationPress) The Odisha Forest, Environment, and Climate Change (FE&CC) Department on Wednesday formalized three pivotal agreements aimed at addressing the challenges posed by climate change, fostering sustainable livelihoods, and preserving the state's abundant biodiversity and coastal ecosystems, as stated by an official.
According to the press release from the FE&CC department, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with IIT Bhubaneswar as part of the project titled Enhancing Climate Resilience of India’s Coastal Communities (ECRICC).
This partnership with IIT-Bhubaneswar emphasizes the restoration of crucial coastal ecosystems, such as seagrass beds and salt marshes, which are essential for biodiversity, carbon capture, and coastal defense.
The department clarified, “Designated as the Technical Support Agency (TSA) for the restoration, protection, and sustainable management of 'Sea Grass' and 'Salt Marsh' ecosystems along the Odisha coast, IIT Bhubaneswar will offer technical assistance for executing sustainable management strategies for these ecosystems.”
In addition, the FE&CC department signed a Letter of Understanding (LoU) with the World Food Programme (WFP) for a regional adaptation initiative between India and Sri Lanka named Adaptation for Resilience (ADAT4R). This project aims to bolster the resilience of vulnerable farming communities confronting the rising challenges of climate change, as detailed in a statement.
The initiative, focusing on the Nuapada district of the state, intends to enhance the resilience of particularly vulnerable farming communities, notably women farmers, over the next five years.
On the same day, the government also executed another MoU with the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) to formulate a Net-Zero Roadmap for the state. This project will outline decarbonization strategies across vital sectors, including industry, power, transportation, and agriculture.
“The collaboration with IIT Bhubaneswar will create opportunities for advanced research and community engagement efforts to foster sustainable coastal management practices,” remarked Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia.
Satyabrata Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of the FE&CC department, elaborated on the community-focused climate-resilient and sustainable practices for ecosystems and livelihoods. Numerous senior officials, including Shreepad Karmalkar, Director of IIT Bhubaneswar, and Dr. Amrit Kumar Mishra, a senior scientist at James Cook University, Australia, were in attendance during the event.
