- Gyalson for global support amidst disproportionate impact
Leh, Sept 03: In a pivotal move for environmental sustainability, the Leh City Climate Action Plan (CAP) was officially unveiled during the Climate 11 Summit on September 6th in Leh. The event, which drew an impressive array of environmental experts and dignitaries, marked a crucial moment for the city’s commitment to combating climate change. The Chief Guest, Advocate Tashi Gyalson, Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, inaugurated the long-anticipated plan. The CAP aims to reduce Leh’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and bolster its resilience to climate change.
The summit, dedicated to addressing urgent climate issues, featured notable speakers including Sh. Norphel, the famed “Iceman of India” and Padma Shri Awardee, Sh. P. Stobdan, former Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, and defense expert, Jigmet Takpa, former Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and Sh. Upendra Tripathy, former Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and ex-Director-General of the International Solar Alliance. Other key figures included Sh. Moses Kunzang, Director of Urban Local Bodies in Ladakh, and Sh. Ashish Verma, Country Coordinator for the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM).
The Leh City CAP is part of a European Union-funded initiative, developed by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in partnership with GCoM. Aligned with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines, the plan outlines specific strategies for both climate mitigation and adaptation. Leh is one of five Indian cities implementing CAP initiatives, joining Pune, Kolkata, Jamnagar, and Junagarh. The city also ranks among 12,000 GCoM signatories worldwide, committed to meeting climate and energy goals.
In a compelling address, CEC Adv. Tashi Gyalson voiced a poignant paradox facing the region. “We contribute almost nothing to global emissions, yet we suffer disproportionately for a problem that is not of our making,” Gyalson remarked, emphasizing Ladakh’s pressing need for global support in combating climate change.
The summit featured key insights from notable figures, including former Chief Conservator of Forests, Jigmet Takpa (IFS), who shared research on how Ladakh can achieve carbon neutrality. Takpa’s work highlighted the region’s potential to set an example in environmental stewardship despite its limited resources.
Piara Powar, Executive Director of the FARE network and trustee of the Chelsea Foundation, underscored Ladakh’s unique opportunity to lead global climate action in sports. “Ladakh can be the leader in creating and setting agendas for action around climate change in sport,” Powar asserted, reflecting the region’s growing influence in promoting sustainable practices within the sporting community.
The summit also heard from Skalzang Rigzen, an esteemed mountaineer and the first Indian to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen. Rigzen’s harrowing account of experiencing 29 degrees Celsius at approximately 5300 feet and observing dramatic glacier melt painted a stark picture of the escalating climate crisis. His observations noted an increase in climbing hazards, including falling rocks and heightened injury rates.
Director of the Metrological Department, Sonam Lotus, emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive studies on climate change in Ladakh’s fragile environment. Lotus discussed the severe impact of climate change on water scarcity and the potential role of artificial glaciers in mitigating these issues.
A highlight of the event was the launch of the “Leh City Climate Action Plan,” a seminal publication offering a detailed analysis and strategic framework for tackling climate challenges specific to Leh. The plan outlines targeted measures to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainable practices in the town.
Norphel, celebrated for his work in creating artificial glaciers to combat water shortages, praised the CAP for addressing both mitigation and adaptation, emphasizing that the fragile Ladakhi ecosystem requires immediate action to protect its future.
The launch of the Leh CAP underscores the city’s strong commitment to climate action, aligning it with national and global efforts to mitigate climate change. As the world faces the escalating effects of global warming, Leh’s initiative positions the city as a leader in safeguarding its vulnerable communities and environment.
The summit concluded with a unified call for swift action, urging all stakeholders to collaborate and ensure the effective implementation of Leh’s Climate Action Plan, setting the city on a path toward greater climate resilience and sustainability.
