Ahead of the meeting of the chief ministers of Himalayan states on environment in Shimla next week, Himachal Pradesh held a daylong interactive session with more than 300 organisations, NGOs, panchayat representatives and mahila mandals to cut down carbon emission as a step towards making the state country’s first carbon neutral state.

Union Minister for Environment Jairam Ramesh, leading international figures on climate change, besides the CMs of Jammu and Kashmir and Uttrakhand, are meeting in Shimla on October 29 ad 30 to adopt a ‘Shimla Declaration’ on collective initiatives on climate change issues as a prelude to Copenhagen Climate Summit.

At the interactive meet on Sunday, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal quoted climate change expert Dr N H Ravindernath about the severe effects of climate change on Himalayan states, which are set to witness repeated droughts, scanty snow, heavy unseasonal rains and flashfloods.

“This is quite alarming and every citizen will be required to contribute towards protecting the environment, saving trees, cutting down carbon emission and conserving water. To implement steps like ban on polythene and saving forests, the Government needs the citizens’ support,” he appealed.

Dhumal expressed satisfaction that Himachal’s initiatives had already started getting international focus, especially after the Union environment minister made a mention of these at the United Nations’ recent meet on climate change.

Dr Arun Kumar, president of Development Alternatives, a multi-national non-profit organisation engaged by the Department of Environment Protection, rolled out its three-phased strategy on “Community-led Assessment, Awareness, Advocacy and Action Programme (CLAP)”, a project launched by Himachal in June 2009.

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