CTA Focuses on Effect of Climate Change in Tibet on World Environment Day Saturday, 6 June 2009, 10:42 a.m.
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| Tenzin Norbu (L) delivers a talk on climate change on World Environment Day at Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala, India, on 5 June 2009. To his right is the logo of this year’s World Environment Day – Unite to combat climate change/Photo: Sangay Kyap/Wikipedia |
Dharamshala:The
Environment and Development Desk (EDD) of the Central Tibetan
Administration organised a talk on significance of Tibetan plateau and
the affects of climate change and water projects initiated by the
Chinese government in Tibet to mark the ‘World Environment Day’ (WED)
on 5 June.
The staff members of the Central Tibetan Administration attended the talk. Speaking
on this year’s WED theme of ‘Unite to combat climate change’, Tenzin
Norbu, executive head of EDD said the climate change is causing the
degradation of Permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau leading to
desertification of landmasses in Tibet. Comparing the images
of Ronpuk Glacier in Tibet between 1921 and 2008, he attributed the
degradation of the glacier to climate change.
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| Staff members of the Central Tibetan Administration attend the World Environment Day |
Chokyi,
research officer of EDD also spoke about the grasslands in Tibet and
rivers of Tibet, which are one of the major sources of water for the
Asian countries. Meanwhile, the world environment day was also
celebrated in an eco-friendly environment at the Gandhi Smarak Vatika
Dharamsala in the shadow of pine trees, followed by an environment
awareness rally from Vatika to Saheed Smarak at Kotwali bazaar
Dharamsala. On the occasion, a convention was organized to
take steps in order to develop Dharamsala as an eco-friendly region
with sustainable development. Participants from 12 NGOs involved in
environment protection, along with Vyapar Mandel, hotel union, students
from different schools in the region, delegates from Central Tibetan
Administration, Prof Y.R. Pathak, municipal counselors along with
president of municipal council expressed their views on the topic
introduced by Prof. Dr. Anjan K. Kalia of Him Renewable Energy and
Environment Consultants at Dharamsala.On the basis of
recommendations plan of action was formulated whereby different
subgroups will be formed on taking effective measures to check the
propagation of Parthenium weed in the region, cleanliness in the city,
stoppage of throwing wastes into the streams and coordinating on these
issues with local bodies, forest department, public health department
and P.W.D., these measures will go a long way to develop Dharamsala, an
eco-friendly hill station. To create a general awareness on
the environment issues prevailing in Dharamsala region, a rally was
organized from “Gandhi Smriti Vatika” to “Shaheed Smarak” Kotwali
bazaar Dharamsala in which people from all walks of life, small
children to senior environment lovers participated.
