German parliamentarians visited Ghazipur .
New Delhi: A 9-member German parliamentarian team visited parts of India, including Delhi, Sikkim and Odisha to observe and learn about regional challenges faced due to the climate crisis and their possible solutions.
During their 9-day trip beginning October 26, the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Nature Conservation and Consumer Protection of the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) learned about the direct effects of man-made climate change, such as heavier precipitation with floods and erosion/landslides, cyclones, but also lack of precipitation with water shortages and overheating of the cities.
The delegation started their trip from Delhi where they visited a project on forest restoration and Ghazipur Waste Dump.
In Sikkim, they observed the state government’s efforts towards environmental conservation, climate action and climate adaption.
The visiting dignitaries were impressed by the path taken by states like Sikkim towards organic agriculture to improve biodiversity, water quality, food security and income stabilization and climate adaptation.
German Parliamentarians visited Odisha
In Odisha, the Committee visited the Bhitarkanika National Park, India’s second-largest mangrove forest and Ramsar Sites, where they received first-hand information about successful protection of mangroves and crocodiles and were impressed by people-to-people exchange.
Talking about his experience, Harald Ebner, Head of the Delegation said, "We see many outstanding approaches in India that can be adapted worldwide. Climate change affects different areas differently and it is extremely important that we share the experiences of regional sustainable solutions with the world.”
The German general counsel of Kolkata, Manfred Auster, who accompanied the delegation said, “I am delighted that the parliamentarians visited Sikkim and Odisha, two states that put high emphasis on sustainable development. Germany and India will continue their cooperation to fight the climate crisis.”
Who all were in the delegation:
Harald Ebner (MoP, Head of Delegation)
Carsten Träger (MoP)
Helmut Kleebank (MoP)
Björn Simon (MoP)
Klaus Mack (MoP)
Tabea Rössner (MoP)
Muhanad Al-Halak (MoP)
Jürgen Braun (MoP)
Amira Mohamed Ali (MoP)
Whom they interacted in India:-
Cabinet minister for environment, forest & climate change, Bhupendra Yadav; the chief minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang (Golay); and chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik.
They also met the two ministers for environment and forest: Karma Loday Bhutia in Sikkim and Pradit Kumar in Odisha.
In Sikkim they were also received by the state’s governor, Ganga Prasad.
In all discussions it became clear how much the Indo-German cooperation in the areas of climate, biodiversity, circular economy, water management, e-mobility, forest protection etc. is valued.
During their interaction, Yadav highlighted the Indo-German Partnership for Green and Sustainable Development signed in May 2022 between the two heads of government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Both countries expressed the desire to continue to work in close co-operation within the framework of the G20 and G7 and the upcoming two COPs: Climate COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh and Biodiversity COP15 in Montreal.
