Bihar Takes the Lead in Climate Action: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to Inaugurate Climate Action Conclave on Monday

Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will inaugurate the Bihar Climate Action Conclave at Patna on Monday, where he will introduce “Climate Resilient and Low Carbon Development Pathway for Bihar,” marking the first such long-term strategy developed by any state in the country. The Chief Minister (CM) will also launch projects worth Rs. 100 crores from the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (DoEFCC), including India and Asia’s first dolphin research center in Patna.

CM Nitish will additionally unveil an integrated dashboard for air quality monitoring sensors installed in all 543 block offices in the state. The occasion will also see the inauguration of BSPCB’s regional offices in Purnia and Bhagalpur.

Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with DoEFCC Minister Prem Kumar, will be in attendance at the conclave organized by the DoEFCC and the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), in collaboration with WRI India, UNEP, and the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.

Several senior officials from central and state governments, including Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Ravi Shankar Prasad, Special Chief Secretary of Assam, will also participate.

Top officials of the Bihar government scheduled to speak at the conclave include outgoing Chief Secretary Amir Subhani, Brijesh Mehrotra, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Land Reforms Department), who has been posted as the new Chief Secretary by the state government.

Other senior state government officials slated to share insights at the conclave comprise outgoing Development Commissioner Vivek Kumar Singh; Pratyaya Amrit, Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Disaster Management); Sandeep Poundrik, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries); Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, Principal Secretary (Finance); Sanjeev Hans, Principal Secretary (Energy); Santosh Kumar Mall, Principal Secretary (Urban Development and Housing); and Dr. D. K. Shukla, Chairman of BSPCB among others.

Prominent officials from the Bihar government set to speak at the conclave include outgoing Chief Secretary Amir Subhani, newly appointed Chief Secretary Brijesh Mehrotra, and various other key figures from different departments.

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

This ambitious initiative, spearheaded by 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.

The Bihar Climate Action Conclave has six sessions planned throughout the day aimed to convene experts, stakeholders, policymakers, and practitioners to deliberate on tailored climate strategies for Bihar. The dialogue will explore innovative climate finance mechanisms, assess the potential of renewable energy sources, and devise comprehensive approaches for climate mitigation and preparedness in the state.

Collaboration will be a cornerstone, ensuring inclusive and effective responses to the urgent climate challenges facing Bihar.

Speaking on the significance of the conclave, Secretary (DoEFCC) Preyashi said: “Bihar Climate Action Conclave aims to assess impacts of climate change, identify risks and develop strategies for its mitigation and to steer Bihar towards sustainable climate resilient development and a low carbon state.”

Complementing the conclave, the Bihar Climate Action Expo will showcase innovative solutions, technologies, and initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change. Renowned organizations including the India Meteorological Department, Indian Oil Corporation, IIT-Patna, Taru Mitra, Nalanda University, and Bihar Agriculture University will exhibit green practices and techniques. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to visit the expo, underscoring the government’s commitment to sustainable development in Bihar.