The NMSHE-supported Sikkim State Climate Change Cell (SCCC) was established in October 2014 under Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology, an autonomous organisation of Department of Science and Technology, Government of Sikkim. State Climate Change Cell has the mandate to focus and address various issues related with climate change to fulfil the objectives of NMSHE and State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).

The Centre has undertaken initiatives with regard to conservation of natural ecosystem and study of impact of climate change on Himalayan ecosystem and human lives and livelihood. The broad goals and objectives of the cell are:

• Vulnerability and Risk Assessment at Gram Panchyat Unit (GPU) and ward level
• The state has total number of 176 GPU and 989 wards in its four districts. Vulnerability and risk assessment provides level of vulnerability within GPU to prioritize the adaptation measures.
• Institutional Capacity building to attain the capability to handle climate change program and to find the solutions to address the problem of climate change in the state. To carry out Research and Development activities for data base generation as per the SAPCC and NMSHE requirements.
• Training programmes for stakeholders including Government officials, researchers, community based organizations, media etc in the state to work for the minimizing the effect of climate change in the state and to achieve the sustainable development.
• Involving masses to work for minimizing the impact of climate Change through awareness programme.

For more information on the initiatives and activities undertaken by Sikkim State Climate Change Cell (SCCC), click here.

First, a High Level Coordination Committee was formulated with secretaries of different departments as members under the chairmanship of the Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, who was also the focal point of climate change in the state of Sikkim in 2010.

Next, the Department of Science and technology, along with the Rural Development and Management Department of Sikkim, undertook a study in early 2010 to identify the vulnerability of the various rural communities in the four districts of the state due to climate change.

The study was presented and discussed in a two-day workshop in Sikkim 2010, with participants from all relevant departments, NGOs, research and educational institutions and the private sector. Also, during the workshop, a brainstorming session took place with the view to identify the key concerns of the state in the context of climate change and take definite measures towards amelioration of the same. The workshop identified five key concerns and concluded that the optimum way ahead was to formulate the Sikkim Action Plan on Climate Change for devising strategies to address the said concerns in the short, medium and long term future. It also concluded that the Action Plan would strengthen the policies and programmes of the Sikkim Government that have been undertaken in the past two decades to protect the ecology and environment of the Himalayan State for its sustainable and inclusive development.

2. Agriculture, horticulture and livestock

3. Forests, wildlife, and eco-tourism

4. Promotion of energy efficiency

5. Urban and rural habitats and communities

Under the chairmanship of the respective high level coordination committee member, five working groups (for each sector of concern) were formulated. The members of the working group were drawn from the related departments, NGOs, educational institutions and the private   sector. The support for the process of preparation of the SAPCC (State Action Plan on Climate Change) was provided by the German International Cooperation (GIZ).The first step towards drafting the SAPCC was to formulate the outlines of the sectoral papers in consultation with the working group members. Further, extensive consultations within the working group members and other concerned stakeholders were also carried out. Based on these steps, the sectoral papers were drafted, by the members of the working groups, which formed the basis for the SAPCC (State Action Plan on Climate Change).