India's National Climate Research agenda was unveiled during the International Climate Research Conclave (ICRC-2023) held at DST's Centre of Excellence in Climate Studies at IIT Bombay on May 26, 2023. The release of this agenda marks a significant milestone in coordinating national efforts to understand and address climate change beyond 2030.
Dr. S. Chandrasekhar, the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the impacts of climate change have already taken a toll and that our response has been delayed. He drew attention to the positive changes in the environment observed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a reminder that responsible action can lead to a sustainable planet for future generations.
He highlighted that addressing climate change is not solely the responsibility of climate scientists. It is a collective responsibility that extends to all individuals and sectors of society. He emphasized the need for scientists to identify the areas with the most significant impact on the climate and work towards mitigating them. The conclave, jointly organized by DST and the Ministry of Earth Sciences and hosted by DST's Centre of Excellence in Climate Studies, aimed to address these challenges.
The report titled ‘India's Climate Research Agenda: 2030 & Beyond’ was released during the conclave. Dr. Chandrasekhar stated that by adopting sustainable practices across various sectors and acknowledging the collective responsibility, meaningful progress can be made in mitigating climate change and preserving a healthy planet.
Dr. M. Ravichandran, the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, emphasized the importance of understanding the cryosphere and its implications for climate change. He highlighted the need for policy decisions addressing water resources, extreme rainfall, heat waves, and marine waves. These complexities should be quantified and communicated with reduced uncertainty to facilitate better policy-making.
Dr. Ravichandran underscored the interconnectedness between different regions and bodies, including the Arctic, Antarctic, and Himalayas, as they directly impact water bodies. The conclave aimed to generate recommendations that would benefit the entire country by addressing these challenges.
The ICRC-2023 witnessed the participation of over 200 climate scientists, students, experts, and policymakers from different parts of India and around the world. The conclave focused on India's recent progress in climate research and discussed its agenda and vision for 2030. Additionally, long-term research agendas in priority areas of climate research were deliberated, along with plans for creating a Climate Consortium involving various departments and ministries of the Government of India to facilitate climate research.
Dr. Gupta emphasized the importance of the event, as it unveiled the National Climate Research agenda, guiding and coordinating national efforts in addressing climate change. He expressed confidence in India's commitment to combat this global challenge and viewed the conclave as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and charting the course for future research endeavors towards a more sustainable and resilient future.
