The Meghalaya State Council on Climate Change & Sustainable Development, led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, convened at the Chief Minister’s residence in Shillong to discuss measures to address the escalating climate crisis and protect the state’s environment.
Meghalaya has been proactive in implementing various interventions to combat climate change. Notably, the state was the first to adopt a convergent-holistic approach through a dedicated Water Policy in 2019, aimed at resolving water issues and safeguarding water sources. Additionally, in 2022, Meghalaya pioneered the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), which offers financial incentives to villages, communities, or clans committed to forest conservation. The state has also introduced several Environmental Action Plans (EAPs) to tackle climate issues and has trained numerous village community facilitators as environment cadres. Recently, the state’s Community Led Landscape Management Project (CLLMP) received the FICCI National GeoSpatial Award in the “Geospatial Excellence in Sustainable Development” category for its outstanding use of geospatial technology.
To institutionalise these ongoing initiatives, the Meghalaya Climate Emergency & Green Growth Framework has been drafted. This framework, which could potentially become law, aims to harmonise the efforts of various departments and agencies in addressing climate change. The Government of Meghalaya developed this framework after extensive research and consultations with stakeholders at community, administrative, and political levels.
If enacted, Meghalaya would join over 40 countries that have declared a climate emergency, underscoring the state’s commitment to coordinated and targeted climate action strategies. The draft framework was prepared with the support of Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy and her team and underwent an internal review with all relevant departments.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma highlighted that the framework seeks to comprehensively address the climate crisis, with a particular focus on the health sector. “The health sector will occupy a major role in this framework as we confront new health challenges arising from climate change. It will ensure that health considerations remain central to our climate strategy,” he stated.
Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Sampath Kumar noted that a Climate Emergency Law could strengthen existing interventions by providing a robust enabling framework, furthering the aspirations of the state’s young population, which makes up 37% of the total populace.
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During the meeting, the council also reviewed ongoing efforts to rejuvenate critical water sources in the state. A data portal was discussed to capture real-time data on water demand and supply and to create water budgets at the village level.
The discussion involved a wide range of participants, including Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma; Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Minister of Agriculture Dr Ampareen Lyngdoh; Minister of SWCD and PHE Marcuise N Marak; Minister of C&RD and Power & Non-Conventional Energy Resources Abu Taher Mondal; Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang, and several other senior government officials, department representatives, members of autonomous district councils, and Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy, along with her team.
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