Meghalaya CM launches Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change

India`s second exclusive meteorological satellite INSAT-3D was today successfully launched by a European rocket from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana.

Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today launched a `Centre for Adaptation to Climate Change` in the state capital with an aim to providing a platform to engage the different government departments and civil societies towards addressing the issue of climate change.

Dedicating the centre to the people of Meghalaya, Mukul said, "I believe that that this centre can be a source of knowledge and data that will benefit not only Meghalaya but also its neighbouring North Eastern states and countries like Bangladesh." The centre was launched in cooperation and technical support from the German Development Cooperation through the climate change adaptation programme in the North East Region. The Chief Minister said the impact of climate change has hit the orange cultivation in Garo hills region of the state. "We need to re-strategize our approach towards adapting to climate change," he said urging participation from cross sections of the society in ensuring sustainable development. In his speech at the inaugural event, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Head of Division South Asia, Thomas Helfen said one billion US dollar has been projected for the North Eastern Region for sustainable development. He said the state government in its state action plan on Climate Change has highlighted the problem of limited and fragmented knowledge related to climate change that is available at the state level as an important cross cutting issue. Elaborating more on the project, Thomas said, "The Centre for Adaptation to Climate change is an important step to improve data collection, data use, timely dissemination and management." PTI