US team, Shimla MC discuss climate change symptoms

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 11

The symptoms of climate change were discussed during an interaction between a team from City of Boulder, Colorado (USA), which has been paired with Shimla under the CityLinks Climate Adaptation Partnership Programme (CAAP), funded by the USAID, with officials of the state government and the Shimla Municipal Corporation (MC)today.

Setting the agenda for elaborate discussions between the partner cities, Special Secretary (Disaster Management) DD Sharma said investment on sustainability of cities would make these economically more viable and integrated.

“Shimla, which is the engine of growth and vulnerable to climate change, will benefit from the experience of adaptation measures initiated by City of Boulder, Colorado, which also lie in the similar vulnerable area to deal with climate change and its outcome will help Shimla develop its road map to deal with the issue”, he stressed.

“The symptoms of climate change are already visible and manifesting in the form of unseasonal rain and hailstorm during March and April, damaging horticulture and agriculture crops and infrastructure. The loss was assessed at Rs 277 crore,” he said adding that it was a small example of climate change.

Sharma said the water supply of Shimla, based on natural resources mainly rainfall, faces water scarcity during summers and water contamination in monsoons.

About 75 per cent of the green gas emission was from cities and the urban local bodies had been empowered to take action as per their suitability as the cities with weak infrastructure were more vulnerable to climate change, he added.

The team, led by project director Josephine, also gave a presentation to the Municipal Corporation and showed how they were planning and adapting to climate change, said Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar, adding that the team would visit some sites to get the firsthand information of the problems.

The International City Managers Association, which manages CAAP, identifies leading practices to address the needs of local governments and professionals serving communities globally and provides services, research publications, data, information, peer and result-oriented assistance besides training and professional development.