Meghalaya State Council for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (MSCCCSD)

Meghalaya State Council for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (MSCCCSD) was constituted under the chairmanship of the chief minister of the state. MSCCCSD and MBDA have been functioning with the Chief Secretary as the convener. Meghalaya State Council on Climate Change and Sustainable Development is the apex body for coordinating and approving climate change related work. A project management agency supported by experts to formulate the implementation guidelines in each sector and work with departments and agencies to develop the baseline, emission inventory, and have consultation across departments and networks. This council is mandated to:

·         Evolve a coordinated response to issues relating to climate change at the State level

·         Provide oversight for formulation of action plans in the area of assessment, adaptation and mitigation of climate change

·         Periodically monitor key policy decisions and their implementation status

·         Any other function that may be deemed necessary by the Council from time to time

Meghalaya State Action Plan on Climate Change

In terms of the Meghalaya State Action Plan on Climate Change, the state has undertaken a massive exercise of identifying key priorities in each sector through the SAPCC. About 150 activities have been identified across six sectors. Out of which 66 activities have been prioritized. Climate change has been mentioned as a cross-cutting sector in the annual plan of the state. The cross-sectoral working groups have shown commitment in producing these drafts by working together and moderating the different positions. The total planned outlay proposed for implementation of the prioritized activities identified under the climate change action plan works out to be approximately Rs 6298 crore. The institutional arrangement has been enshrined in the notification and has been approved by the cabinet. Meghalaya State Council on Climate Change and Sustainable Development is designated as the apex body for coordinating and approving climate change related work. There will be a project management agency to support the Basin Development Authority in developing implementation guidelines in each sector and work with departments and agencies to develop the baseline, emission inventory, and have consultation across departments and networks towards implementation of the State Action Plan on Climate Change. This will also include creating awareness and building the capacity of line department staff and the vulnerable community towards implementation of the adaptation activities proposed under SAPCC.