Bihar’s Environmental Agenda Takes Center Stage: Anticipation Builds for Climate Active Conclave

Patna: In Patna, all eyes are on the upcoming Bihar Climate Active Conclave, set to take place on March 4. This eagerly awaited event promises to be a game-changer, as the Bihar Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change unveils projects totaling nearly Rs100 crores. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will preside over the launch of all initiatives, signaling the state’s robust commitment to environmental sustainability.

Authorities are sparing no effort to ensure the resounding success of this significant event. Three days prior to the conclave, State Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prem Kumar convened a crucial meeting with senior department officials to meticulously review the preparations.

According to a statement released by the department, the minister greenlit the inauguration of the National Dolphin Research Centre in Patna and the Bihar Forest Research Institute in Munger. Additionally, the unveiling of an air quality monitoring dashboard, equipped with sensors installed across all 534 blocks of the state by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board in partnership with IIT Kanpur, as well as the inauguration of newly constructed regional BSPCB offices in Bhagalpur and Purnia, are among the highlights lined up for the conclave.

Present at the meeting were key officials including Bandana Preyashi, Secretary (DoEFCC); Ashutosh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests; Kanwal Tanuj, Special Secretary; Prabhat Kumar Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests; Abhay Kumar, Additional Secretary; and Surendra Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests.

At the heart of the Conclave’s agenda lies the launch of the ‘Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development Pathway for Bihar’ strategy report by CM Nitish Kumar. Bihar’s proactive approach in formulating a comprehensive strategy to mitigate carbon emissions and combat global warming places it ahead of many other states in India.

This ambitious initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (DoEFCC) in collaboration with BSPCB and a technical consortium comprising globally renowned organizations such as UNEP, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, WRI India, and Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), aims to foster sustainable development practices. Deep-dive partners including RTI International, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Development Alternatives (DA), and ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) have also lent their expertise to various facets of the project, ranging from energy to waste management.