Chirag Gupta
Patna: A high-level review meeting on the Bihar State Climate Change Action Plan (SAPCC) 2025-30 was held at Aranya Bhawan, chaired by Dr. Prem Kumar, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bihar. The meeting brought together key officials, including the Chairman of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), the Director of Ecology and Environment, and senior officers from various departments and the state secretariat.
The SAPCC 2025-30 has been developed following directives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government of India. The plan, created through extensive consultations with stakeholders from various state departments, addresses Bihar’s specific climate challenges. It outlines strategies across 12 chapters, focusing on areas like vulnerability assessment, climate change mitigation, adaptation strategies, and financing mechanisms. The draft has been approved by the state’s Steering Committee, led by the Chief Secretary, and submitted to the Technical Committee, chaired by the Joint Secretary of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Dr. Prem Kumar emphasised the urgent threat posed by climate change to the environment, agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, and social welfare. Quoting the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report (AR6), he noted that greenhouse gas emissions are at historic highs. He stressed the importance of transformational changes to limit global warming to 1.5°C, in line with the Paris Agreement goals. The minister also highlighted India’s commitments at COP-26 and COP-27, including achieving Net Zero Emissions by 2070 and the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP-28.
Officials were instructed to expedite the process of securing formal approval for the Climate Change Action Plan. They were also urged to strengthen coordination with stakeholder departments to address critical issues like pollution and climate challenges effectively. The minister reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sustainable development and underscored the necessity for urgent action to mitigate the impacts of climate change on Bihar.
