Department of Environment and Climate Change to create virtual climate cells'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DoECC) is conducting a training to create 'virtual climate cells' in various government institutions. These teams from each institution will act as a link between the recently formed climate cell at DoECC and the organisations. They are being trained to integrate climate change perspectives into their respective organisaton's activities. "Suppose the director of an institution has a project which needs to be in line with climate change perspectives, they can take the help of this focal team. They will assist the institution head in preparing such a project and will also coordinate with the directorate for accessing funds or some technical assistance," says Padma Mahanti, director, DoECC.

Now, 81 people from 34 institutions identified as implementing agencies of the State Action Plan for Climate Change (SAPCC) are taking part in the training programme. These include organisations like Energy Management Centre, KSEB, KSREC, ICAR-CTCRI and IMD. "Many of the projects these organisations take up may be already associated with climate change. The officials will be trained to look into their existing plans and budgets with a climate change lens," says Nirmala Sanu George, team leader, Climate Change Innovation Programme, DFID.

The training is being conducted by UK's Department for International Development (DFID). Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has entrusted DFID with providing technical support to five Indian states --- Kerala, Assam, Bihar, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. A similar kind of training is being conducted for officials in local bodies through KILA, according to Padma Mahanti.