With the national seminar on 'Combating Environmental Degradation' commencing on Monday, experts at the event emphasised on the need for hands-on approach to combat climate change.
Organised by Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC) in association with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Gujarat state council and Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA), the two-day seminar was inaugurated by Mangubhai Patel, minister, Department of Forest and Environment, Gujarat government, along with SK Nanda, principal secretary, Department of Forest and Environment, Gujarat and chairman, GEC; E Balagurusamy, member secretary, GEC, Ashok Ranchhod, director, MICA and CH Pandya, director, GEC.
Speaking at the plenary session on 'Global Climate Change and Environmental Degradation and its impact on Indian society – economic & social', YK Alagh, noted economist and former union minister said, “Being development-oriented state with lots of industry houses and educational institutes, Gujarat has capacity to launch certain initiatives to combat climate change. Knowledge-based products are one of the major tools for the purpose.”
GEC, which was recently lauded by environment minister, Jairam Ramesh for its mangrove restoration, chose the World Mangrove Day to host the seminar. Deliberations and discussions, which will take place during the two-day national seminar, are expected to be the corner-stone of the future roadmap to be developed for combating the climate change.
Speaking at the inaugural, Nanda said, “It is now time for all intellectuals to convert the ideas into action for the protection of the environment. Tree-plantation on large scale is one of the major tools for the purpose, but the real challenge is to develop several revenue-based models to combat the climate change. Promotion to bio-degradable paper industry and setting up a number of nursery can be one of such solutions and all the experts, who are present here, should do brainstorming exercise in this direction.”
The seminar is expected to see issues ranging from soil-degradation to water consumption to be discussed by experts and participants alike.