State of the World: Into a Warming World -The Indian Edition Launch

The Indian edition of State of the World Report 2009, which is focused on Climate Change, has been brought out by CEE. State of the World Report, published annually by Worldwatch Institute, Washington, has been a benchmark for discussions on various issues of sustainability and the annual volume acts as a platform to launch further discussion, study, and research.

The launch of the Indian edition State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World, is planned in different parts of the country at Ahmedabad, Bangalore , Bubhaneshwar, Delhi , Guwahati, Lucknow and Pune. The events have been designed to trigger a series of discussions on various aspects of climate change. The first three launches have already been held. The SOW Indian edition launch events are being held as a part of CEE's climate change education programme and are being supported by ArcelorMittal.

Pune

The Pune event - with the theme 'Cities Address Climate Change', and attended by over a hundred participants, was organized in partnership with  Janwani  and the  Mahratta Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture on 6 October. Two panel discussions helped to make local connections and suggested the types of local actions which will be necessary. 

‘ India has an easier route. We have a shortcut. We can go to the eco-society straight, rather than through the route of classical industrialisation'

- Mr. Mahesh Zagade, Municipal Commissioner, Pune at the first launch at Pune

The panel discussions focused on 'Emissions Reduction and Energy Efficiency' and 'Resilience, Justice and Governance'.

Ahmedabad

The launch function in Ahmedabad took place on 9 October , at the CEE campus. Panel discussions were organised on – ‘Perspectives on Industry, Energy and Climate Change'; and ‘Perspectives on Health and Climate Change'.

The discussions emphasised that with a growing population and growing needs that the earth's resources have to meet, energy efficiency gains much importance. The panel discussed among other things, the critical need for 'demand' side management for energy efficiency, as well as potential of solar energy as an alternative energy source. It was suggested that apart from renewable energies being an alternative, the efficiency increase of the fossil fuel energy too can help in energy conservation.

The second panel threw up some less discussed aspects of the impacts of climate change. For example, the increase in heat stress and heat disorders, the impact on women who will be greatly affected in many ways, and the increase in pandemics like the H1N1. Ms. Indu Kapoor, Director, CHETNA, emphasised that data generated during disasters was not gender discriptive, and it is women who are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Lucknow

The book launch in Lucknow on 13 October was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Agriculture' and ‘Water' in relation to Climate Change. The event was attended by over 50 participants representing government departments, NGOs, Universities, institutions, schools and media. The agriculture panel covered themes like land use patterns for agriculture and forestry and food security while the water panel discussed themes related to water stress, sanitation and health; gender and water management; and preparedness and resilience to natural disasters.

Science Express – Climate Change Exhibition on the Move

'Science Express' is an innovative science exhibition on a train that travels across the country. After its launch on October 2007 by Hon'ble Prime Minister of India and Chancellor of Germany, it has been showcased in 100 cities across India in two phases. The exhibition, which created four national records, has received overwhelming response at all the halts. Over 3.5 million people, mostly students, had an opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research in science, through interesting audio-visual exhibits and interactive tools.

Phase 3 of Science Express was inaugurated on 2 October 2009 at Gandhinagar Railway Station, Gujarat . As information about the Climate Change is the need of the hour, it was decided to introduce an entire coach on the theme in phase 3.

CEE has developed the content, design, and the fabrication of the climate change coach. The special coach has been developed with the support of Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Corporation (HSBC). The exhibition has been designed to address the general misunderstandings of scientific facts, related to climate change. Six main themes of the exhibition are: Introduction of Climate change, Balance in Nature, Global Warming, Climate Change evidences and impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation, and Handprint Action for Climate Change. Information on India's Stand on Climate Change, and key institutes working on climate change are also provided.

 

Wildlife Week

CEE Jaipur
CEE Jaipur in collaboration with Jaipur Zoo and Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board celebrated Wildlife Week at Jaipur Zoo.

About 10,000 students from 10 NGC schools and 20 other schools of Jaipur were visited the Zoo and participated different type of activities.

The event aimed to generate interest about wildlife amongst the youngsters, develop better understanding about the role and importance of wildlife in balancing human life, and to reach out to the schools with the conservation message in a non-traditional, joyful way.

EE supported the five day event as a state resource agency of National Green Corps in Rajasthan. CEE helped Jaipur Zoo to Conduct Quizzes, and competitions - poster making, essay writing, photo identification, and elocution. Hon'ble Environment and Forest Minister of Rajastan, Mr. Ramlal Jat, was Chief Guest of this session.

CEE Madhya Pradesh
CEE Madhya Pradesh observed the wildlife week with programmes in different schools. The focus was on conservation of endangered species and their role our ecosystem.

Students take a pledge to not feed monkeys

In every school the programme included a lecture with general information on different species, their habitat, special features and need of conservation; as well as a quiz based on wildlife and biodiversity of Madhya Pradesh. ZOO outreach organisation provided material for the event. The program was a part of NGC state activity, reaching out to more than 450 students, 40 teachers, and forest officials.


From Recovery to Resilience

A two-day seminar on State of Recovery and Rehabilitation in Earthquake affected Jammu & Kashmir and the Future Strategies towards Resilience, was held on 13–14 October in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir . It was organised as a part of the ongoing initiative of Welthungerhilfe in partnership with CEE, “Building disaster resilience through awareness, education and contingency planning in 5 districts in Kashmir ”.

The discussions in the workshop brought out the complex nature of undertaking relief and rehabilitation work in the area, which has many other challenges to be simultaneously dealt with. A representative of Kashmir volunteers said how children in the valley had to learn to live with bullets and terrorism, as much as they had to deal with the earthquake. Groups reported on large wastage that often happens when relief materials arrive without understanding local needs and customs. Discussing the rehabilitation work, concern was expressed regarding increasing the level of local participation. How to prevent assistance from becoming charity as opposed to a tool for rebuilding was also discussed.

Above hundred eighty participants representing government, non-government organizations, academicians, medical professionals, social workers, students, teachers and community representatives participated and expressed their views and concerns. Recommendations on building the roadmap towards resilience for natural disasters in Jammu and Kashmir will be shared with the concerned government departments.

CEE's own efforts, in a project with Welthungerhilfe, was to develop contingency plans in 50 villages and the setting up of village-level disaster management committees, mostly from among the youth. A 21 member team from CEE is reaching out to over 2000 village schools in 5 districts of Kashmir , in a major DRR awareness campaign. The project also involves setting up demonstrations for different technologies that lead to livelihoods- such as mushroom growing, apiculture, poultry and farming in winter using green houses.
CEE