CAPACITY BUILDING ON CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES FOR TEACHERS & FACULTIES OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AT CHAMPHAI

Background: As a part of the project objectives and mandate of the State Climate Change Cell under National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) and the Strategic Knowledge Mission (SKM) of the Mizoram State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) to carry out capacity building programme at institutional and stakeholder level, it is felt necessary to build the capacity of teachers and faculties of elementary, middle schools, high schools, higher secondary schools and colleges by sensitizing them on the knowledge of Climate Change, its issues and challenges in Mizoram. This initiative aims to equip teachers with knowledge which they will be able to impart to their current students and the coming generation so as to build well informed system for resilience against long term climate change.

                The capacity building programme on climate change issues for teachers and faculties of educational institutions is planned to be carried out at each of the district headquarters of Mizoram. With this background, a one-day programme was carried on 11^th October 2023 at Champhai by collaborating with the office of the District Education Officer, Department of Education, Govt. of Mizoram.

Report:

• The programme was started at 10:30 AM chaired by Dr. Davy Lalruatliana, Senior Scientific officer, Mizoram Science, Technology & Innovation Council (MISTIC) who gave a welcome remark to the participants. After a round of introduction, the chairman mentioned the purpose and keynote of the programme.
• Chief Guest Pu C. Lalbiakzauva, District Education Officer, Champhai District gave a speech on the importance of climate change and stresses on the necessity to impart it into grassroot level and that the programme would be beneficial for not only the fraternity of educational institutions but also the society as a whole.
• In the technical session, Mr. Lalthanpuia, Project Scientist-II, State Climate Change Cell, Mizoram Science, Technology and Innovation Council (MISTIC) delivered a talk on a topic: Climate Change and Its Issues: Mizoram Context. The topic stressed on the following points:
• Explanation of the term climate, weather, and climate change.
• Working of the global climate.
• Causes of climate change.
• Historical trend of recorded global climate change and challenges.
• Projected climate change scenarios and their probable impacts.
• Historical trend of recorded climate change and challenges in Mizoram
• Steps to address climate change issues and challenges.
• Results and findings of Vulnerability Assessment conducted for different sectors.
• Results and findings of Climate Risk Assessment conducted for Flood and drought.
• A lengthy and fruitful questions and answers session followed.
• Teachers of Science, Environmental Studies and Social studies were invited and a total of 109 teachers from different schools and colleges within Champhai town area participated in the programme.
• The programme was ended after Dr. Lalhruaitluangi, Sub Divisional Education Officer, Champhai District gave a vote of thanks to all the organizers and participants.

Chief Guest, Pu C. Lalbiakzauva, District Education Officer, Champhai District addressing the programme and participants

Participants of the programme