Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM chairs meeting on National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

The Prime Minister chaired a meeting of the National Council on Climate Change to give shape to the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change. Dr. Manmohan Singh underlined the importance of developing our own skills, knowledge and capacities in the science of climate change. In particular the Prime Minister stressed that as we find ourselves having to engage with the global community on climate change, it was necessary to have the ability to prepare and read scientific data related to climate change. He cautioned against compartmentalized thinking in various concerned ministries and suggested an integrated approach to capacity building.

The meeting emphasized the importance of building a vibrant and dynamic knowledge system for effectively promoting ecologically sustainable development with the NMSKCC working as a service mission of the National Action Plan on Climate Change. It outlined the objectives of the Mission as networking existing knowledge institutions for exchange and sharing of data, building institutional and human capacities and improving the understanding of key climate processes and climate risks. The Mission would also define sustainability pathways and work towards building alliances and partnerships through global pathways.

The mission serviced by the Science and Technology Ministry will seek to build synergy with the NATCOM process of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Science and Technology Ministry was asked to incorporate the suggestions made by the civil society representatives, who had forcefully pointed out that the success of the Mission would hinge on a public - private partnership. The civil society representatives also emphasized that this Mission should plan its strategies only after reaching out to the public.

The meeting was attended by the Finance Minister, The Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Chairman - Economic Advisory Council, Chairman - National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, Foreign Secretary, Secretary Science and Technology, Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director General -TERI, and other non-official members of the Council on Climate Change.