CHANDIGARH: In a bid to check global warming, the Punjab government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for becoming the member of the global network called Under2 Coalition to address climate change, it was announced on Thursday, July 28.

With this agreement, Punjab joins the largest network of 221 states or provincial governments from 43 countries committing to reducing CO2 and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement, which was approved at a United Nations climate change summit in Paris in 2015.

State Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer stated that the signing of the MoU is especially important given the unprecedented scale of the impacts of climate change, such as shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, and associated health issues.

India, which ranks seventh in the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, is also among the high-risk countries.

The minister believed that partnership will aid in harnessing strategic knowledge and technical support for executing comprehensive climate change mitigation initiatives.

The minister reaffirmed the state's commitment to constructing a strong climate-resilient environment and transforming climate risks into possibilities.

He emphasised that the state administration is eager to work with international and national organisations to address state-specific climate change issues.

The MoU was signed on behalf of the government by Manish Kumar, Director, Environment and Climate Change, and on behalf of the Under2 Coalition by Divya Sharma, India Executive Director, Climate Group.

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