Guwahati: The state of Assam is set to host the first-ever Global Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Action. Chief Secretary. IAS Dr Ravi Kota will chair a key stakeholder consultation meeting to discuss the preparatory roadmap for the international event.
In a social media post, IAS Dr Kota stated that a meeting featured a detailed presentation by Gyanendra Dev Tripathi, Principal Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department and CEO of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
His presentation outlined the upcoming conference’s broad contours, covering its objectives, key stakeholders, implementation strategy, participating countries, expected outcomes, target audience and proposed event flow.
Dignitaries and representatives from various government departments and institutions attended the meeting in both physical and virtual formats. Discussions highlighted the importance and timeliness of Assam hosting such a global event, especially given the state’s vulnerability to climate change and its location in Seismic Zone-V.
Experts from prominent organisations such as UNICEF, CSIR-NEIST Jorhat, Geospatial World, IIT Guwahati and IISS New Delhi also participated in the consultation, offering valuable inputs for shaping the conference agenda.
Dr Kota emphasised the importance of a well-structured strategy for selecting partner countries and participants. He stressed proactive coordination with central agencies like NDMA, as well as engagement with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs, North Eastern states, international organisations and private stakeholders.
The Global Conference aims to enhance collaboration with leading institutions and experts worldwide to develop forward-looking policies on disaster risk reduction and climate change.
It will promote globally relevant best practices tailored to the unique challenges of Assam and the North East, while fostering regional consensus. A joint declaration on DRR and Climate Action among North Eastern states and neighbouring transboundary countries is also on the agenda.
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