MoU Signed Between WRI and APCO for Climate Change and Forest Conservation

• 28 Feb 2023

Why In News?

In a workshop on climate change organized on February 27, 2023, an MoU was signed between EPCO of Environment Department and International Research Institute WRI India for technical cooperation on work related to climate change and conservation of forests in the state.

Key points

• The main objective of the workshop was to present and deliberate on the main points of the Climate Change Conference COP-27 held in Egypt in November 2022.
• Executive Director APCO Mujibur Rahman Khan said that the MoU will focus on the work related to climate change and conservation of forests in Madhya Pradesh in the next 5 years. Useful and meaningful efforts will be made in these years, as a result of which we will take mutually concrete steps towards sustainable and green development.
• APCO will continue to provide all institutional and technical support to WRI India and related departments at the state and district levels.
• State Climate Change Center coordinator Lokendra Thakkar said that APCO M.P. It is a specialized organization of the government, which is committed to providing advice to the state government on issues related to the environment, research studies, planning work and training and capacity development.
• Highlighting the topic of Loss & Damage related to climate change, the chief speaker of the program, Harjit Singh, head of CAN International, said that Madhya Pradesh is ready to respond to the effects of climate change, which is posing a big challenge in the agriculture, water resources, tourism, and energy sectors. It is an extremely sensitive state. Technical and financial resources, along with appropriate policies, are needed to enhance local-level solutions, build resilience, and enhance human capacity by eliminating losses and damages.
• Ulka Kelkar, Director, Climate Program, WRI India, said that Madhya Pradesh is an especially important state in terms of climate action in India. It is one of the top 10 states in India in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
• The state is implementing measures such as protecting wetlands, reviving traditional water-harvesting structures, and promoting indigenous cattle breeds. There is also a lot of potential for communities to be a part of low carbon emissions in big and small cities of the state.