Tamil Nadu becomes first state to launch its climate change mission

Chennai: Tamil Nadu became the first state in the country that has launched its “Climate Change Mission” to achieve the target of carbon net zero and protect the natural resources in the state.

Launching the Mission at the “TN Climate Summit 2022”, Chief Minister M K Stalin said,  “Our government views climate change as a major humanitarian crisis”.

“Global warming has occurred due to high carbon emissions. Many scientists have said the world should reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Last year, the Centre declared that it will become carbon neutral by 2070” the Chief Minister said.

 “Let me assure you that Tamil Nadu will achieve carbon neutrality before that,” the Chief Minister said.

Climate change concerned all and the state government viewed this issue seriously. “I am proud to lead from the front. I see this as my life’s mission,” he added.

During the budget for 2021-2022, the state government announced the launch of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission for an outlay of Rs 500 crore to undertake climate change management and mitigation activities.

Around Rs 77.35 crore was allotted for carrying out basic research related to generating energy from waste, green power generation, creation of life shields in coastal areas, climate literacy, and sustainable villages.

During the event, “a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Resources Institute, Anna University, and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management was signed on the occasion, to help the government establish 10 smart villages, 25 green schools and achieve blue flag beaches.

Earlier in Madurai, the Chief Minister inaugurated the sanitation workers’ development scheme to protect the welfare of conservancy workers in the state