National Symposium on ‘How India Can Address Climate Extremes’

UNESCO South Asia hosted a National Symposium titled " How India Can Address Climate Extremes", organized in collaboration with IPE Global Esri India and Climate Trends on 6 August 2024. The event brought together experts, policymakers, and private sector stakeholders to deliberate on the development of effective strategies to mitigate the consequences of climate-related disasters. This symposium reinforced UNESCO's commitment to building climate resilience through education, scientific innovation, and cultural preservation.

Tim Curtis, Director and Representative, UNESCO New Delhi Regional Office for South Asia in his inaugural remarks reaffirmed UNESCO's commitment to climate resilience. He highlighted initiatives like the 'Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme,' which recognized Venkatraipur and Noliasahi villages from Odisha as Tsunami Ready communities for their overall preparedness to face the calamity. , making India the first country in the Indian Ocean Region to achieve this milestone. Mr. Curtis reiterated the need for global collaboration to support disaster risk reduction efforts.

Abinash Mohanty, Sector Head-Climate Change and Sustainability at IPE Global, discussed India's climate zones and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. During the event the issue brief "Managing Monsoons in a Warming Climate" jointly developed by IPE Global and Esri India was also launched..

Ashwajit Singh, Founder and Managing Director of IPE Global, emphasized the importance of SDG 13, green technology, and clean energy in his special address.

Dr. Krishna S. Vatsa, Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) provided an overview of India's disaster management history, advocating for inter-sectoral cooperation, sustainable water resource management, and a restructured fiscal framework for disaster mitigation.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General, India Meteorological Department, discussed climate change's impact on agriculture, and the need for advanced observation systems and location-specific warnings using geospatial intelligence.

Agendra Kumar, Managing Director of Esri India, highlighted the crucial role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in addressing extreme climate scenarios and their effects on agriculture and human well-being.

Amit Prothi, Director General, CDRI, outlined the CDRI's goals for COP 29, stressing the importance of resilient infrastructure and multi-hazard early warning systems. He also introduced the concept of Chief Heat Officers to tackle emerging climate challenges.