International Seminar on Climate Change: Impact, Adaptation and Mitigation Organized by: FREED June 15, 2012: Kolkata

Precisely at a time when India is confronted with development imperatives, we will also be severely impacted by climate change. Like other developing countries, several sections of the Indian populace will not be able to buffer themselves from impacts of global warming. With close economic ties to natural resources a and climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water and forestry, India may face a major threat, and require sensitive serious adaptive capacity to combat climate change. As a developing country, India can little afford the risks and economic backlashes that industrialized nations can. With 27.5% of the population still below the ustrialized poverty line, reducing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change is essential. It is in Indias interest to ensure that the world moves towards a low carbon future. Many studies ha have underscored the nations vulnerability to climate change. With changes in key climate variables, namely temperature, precipitation and humidity, crucial sectors like agriculture and rural development are likely to be affected in a major way. Impacts are already being seen in unprecedented heat waves, cyclones, floods, salinisation of the coastline and effects on agriculture, fisheries and health. On, June 15 and 16, 2012, FREED The Force for Rural Empowerment and Economic Development ment organized the International Seminar on Climate Change at Science City Auditorium, Kolkata with a vision to Kolkata, To develop an awareness and innovative policy and indigenous structure for creation of commodious life To with zero environmental damages by focusing on countering climate change and transition to Low carbon countering sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The primary objective of this conference was to successfully growth. e establish a platform for policy and technology dialogues and capacity building measures to identify meaningful pathways for the utilization of sustainable renewable energy systems. According to Freed, this ingful objective can be accomplished by integrating the following concrete achievable targets:
To discuss the existing Policy and to bring in new themes in policy making for integrating climate change issues. To accelerate and enhance the utilization of renewable energy sources of South Asia, promoting an environmentally sound economic development. To inspire new and innovative developments, methods and know how in renewable energy. know-how To design a way forward for addressing the climate change issues by the utilization of RE technologies.

Mr. Gopi Krishna Moore, Environment Chair, Yi Kolkata was amongst the panelists which included members Kolkata, gst from the state and central governments, representatives from neighboring countries, advocates, doctorates, professors, corporate professionals and startups working to develop products that help harness renewable resources like wind and solar energies. Many of these startups had displayed their projects to show it to the ources delegates attending the event. GBS Yi-Net members were also invited to be a part of this event during the pre lunch session on June 15. The Net pre-lunch 15 brief time spent at this event was very helpful in learning how this climate change is affecting the Himalayas me and the Sundarbans, through Gangetic plain. Another session helped us learn how the Indian Government plain. arranges for funds to invest in RE projects and Dr. G. K. Pradhan, Addl. Director & Chief Regional Coordinator, PCRA, explained in his session how little things done by everyone to conserve energy can not only help save the planet but also cut our daily cos As, South African President Jacob Zuma had said, Save tomorrow, costs. today, we must stop the climate from changing before the climate forces us to change.