CLAP for Himachal:
Towards the First Carbon Neutral State in India

 

The twenty first century has brought with it new environmental challenges. Climate change has become the bane of mankind’s progress. But unlike other environmental impacts of anthropological activity, climate change is a totally global phenomenon.

The effects of global climate change are being felt in Himachal Pradesh, located in the ecologically fragile region of the Himalayas – glaciers are melting at a faster rate, snowfall is delayed and moving to higher altitudes, crops are failing, and there is an increase in the occurrence of landslides, droughts and unseasonal flash floods. While global warming and consequent climate change could lay bare the once-snow capped mountains, wreak havoc on the water systems and destroy the centuries-old natural balance and biodiversity, the people of Himachal Pradesh have pledged to proactively and sustainably develop their State into the first carbon-neutral State in India through the CLAP (Community Led Assessment, Awareness, Advocacy and action Programme for environmental improvement and carbon neutrality) Programme.

The CLAP Programme, initiated by the Himachal Pradesh government in association with Development Alternatives (DA), follows the multi stakeholders’ participatory approach, with the goal of mobilising community responsibility for environment protection and carbon neutrality in the State through a network of Eco-Clubs, Mahila Mandals, Panchayats, urban local bodies and NGOs, leading to a mass movement realising the dream of making Himachal an environmentally ‘safe’ State as also a role model for the rest of the country.

While launching the programme, the Honourable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Professor Prem Kumar Dhumal underlined the need for an environmental policy which could not only ensure the protection of environment but also the uniform development of the state. He said that there was need to take along all the stakeholders in order to create a congenial atmosphere to move ahead towards making Himachal Pradesh carbon neutral in all respects.

As the programme management agency, DA has designed the programme to be implemented in three phases over a period of three years: The preparatory, development and consolidation phases, with the objectives of:

• Systematically assessing and documenting environment quality and carbon footprint
• Generating systematic awareness among communities, decision makers and other stake holders on the
¨ State of the environment
¨ Causes of environmental degradation
¨ Possible ameliorative action
• Establishing a vibrant network of Eco-clubs, Mahila Mandals, NGOs, etc., to promote environmental advocacy for policy change

• Mobilising communities and Panchayats to undertake environmental improvement actions at the local level and reduce their carbon footprints

While addressing the Green Issues (related to the impact of agriculture, degradation and destruction of renewable natural resources), Brown issues (the impact of industrialisation, urbanisation, transport, energy generation and solid and hazardous waste) and the Blue issues (all forms of water-related issues, including ground and surface water), the programme will be involving the people in finding the present status, identifying the key environmental issues and hotspots and then build their capacities to analyse and understand the cause-effect relationship and to take up actions at their own level and also influence the local governments and authorities.

The programme envisages reaching out to the 80 administrative blocks through the field implementing agencies comprising Eco-clubs, Mahila Mandals, NGOs, etc., under the coordination and facilitation of District Coordinating Agencies comprising of Lead NGOs/Institutions. To meet this extensive coverage, the programme management has been decentralised.
The active participation of the citizens and the support of different administrative departments and Panchayats, strategic direction and guidance from the advisory and steering bodies comprising senior representatives of various relevant line departments and experts from various sectors and the monitoring and evaluation system set in place by the management agency will enhance the efficacy of the programme.

The Himalayas shape the climate, hydrology and soil fertility of much of South Asia and, therefore, preserving the ecological and environmental sanctity of the mountains is not only of paramount importance to mountain inhabitants but also for the entire region.

Keeping in view the sensitive ecological conditions, the process of formulating an environment master plan, the imposition of a voluntary ‘green tax’ on vehicle users (to generate a fund for combating climatic changes) and a total ban on polythene across the State have been initiated in the State as a long-term planning process to address environmental issues more effectively.

At the recently concluded Himalayan State’s Chief ministers conclave on ‘Glaciers, Climate Change and Livelihoods’, recommendations have been made based on the technical deliberations for incorporation in the action plan for national mission for sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem.

CLAP for Himachal Pradesh will go hand in hand with these initiatives of the state and take the message to the people of the state, making it truly participative. q

Usha Srinivasan
usrinivasan@devalt.org


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