Jharkhand needs long-term persistent efforts on both the adaptation and mitigation fronts to combat climate change, suggested Anjal Prakash, coordinating lead author for the Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) report in the sixth assessment cycle in 2022.

Prakash was speaking to The Telegraph on Friday ahead of Saturday’s conference in Ranchi on building a climate-resilient Jharkhand.

He said that analysis of the IPCC reports and analysis of past trends and current erratic behaviour in climatic events show that changes are being experienced in Jharkhand.

“It is indeed proof of the natural climate variability prevailing in the state. Many studies for the state show that Jharkhand is in a precarious situation due to its high climate sensitivity and vulnerability, combined with low adaptive capacity.

“The state is already suffering due to its high dependence on mineral resources. Further, the forest and water resources in the state are facing threats due to industrial and urban growth and being uneven in distribution both temporally and spatially,” said Prakash.

“To combat climate change, long term persistent efforts will be required by the state on both the adaptation and mitigation fronts. Jharkhand must update its state action plan with recent trends and projections that will have to lead to district level planning and climate proofing of its policies and programmes converging in districts,” he said.

Looking at the shift in energy sources in the next two decades, Prakash said the state has to plan skill building so that people dependent on coal mines are not affected in the long run.

He said the capacities of the departments need strengthening so that they can comprehend the climate change issue and its impacts and accordingly plan an integral part of the departmental planning process.

The state will have to invest heavily to safeguard the welfare interests of the population, especially the tribals who suffer from acute poverty, Prakash said.

“The situation calls for appropriate, evidence-based and coherent policy response, followed by adequate action that can help reduce its vulnerability and build the resilience of the various sectors of the state in the context of

climate change impacts. The adaptation measures include instituting climate-resilient infrastructure, decentralised and inclusive climate governance and architecture of delivery on the ground for delivery of services,” added Prakash.

Prakash, who has two decades of experience working on water and climate issues in South Asia warned: “The impacts of climate change in Jharkhand are going to be severe. Water resources, forests, agriculture and human health are being impacted due to shifts in precipitation and change in average minimum and maximum temperatures.

Prakash said: “Studies are showing that there is increased variability of rainfall in Jharkhand coupled with heat stress, which is impacting agriculture and allied services. There is a deficit of rainfall that is projected by climate scientists that may lead to drought conditions. This extreme variation impacts the life, livelihoods and health of people in terms of heat and cold waves.”