One-week National capacity building workshop on “Climate Change and Human Vulnerability: Bridging Science, Society and Governance” begins at University of Jammu

Jammu, January 19: A one-week National capacity building workshop on “Climate Change and Human Vulnerability: Bridging Science, Society and Governance” commenced today at the University of Jammu. The workshop is being organized by the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, in collaboration with Malviya Mission Teacher Training Center(MMTTC), University of Jammu, funded under RUSA-2.0 and will continue from January 19 to January 24, 2026.

The workshop aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform for scientists, academicians, policymakers, researchers, and students to deliberate on the complex interactions between climate change, human vulnerability, and governance mechanisms. It seeks to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge, societal needs, and policy frameworks to enhance climate resilience and sustainable decision-making.

The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Prof. Deepika Slathia, Head, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, who warmly welcomed the participants and the invited experts from different institutions. In her address, she emphasized the growing relevance of such academic and policy-oriented engagements in the present scenario, where the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly visible and severe. She highlighted the recent floods witnessed in the month of August and the devastating disaster in Chishoti as stark reminders of the vulnerability of human societies to climate-induced hazards.

Prof. Deepika Slathia stressed that workshops of this nature play a crucial role in enhancing awareness, fostering scientific understanding, and strengthening collaboration between researchers, communities, and governance institutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.

The workshop has brought together 75 participants, including academicians/faculty members from diverse institutions, scientists, policymakers, and officials from various government departments. Participants represent departments such as the Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing, Agriculture, Jal Shakti, and several other allied departments. In addition, many research scholars, students, and faculty members of the University of Jammu are actively participating in the programme.

Day one of the workshop is focussed on foundations of Climate Change Sciences and governance. The first session began with a talk by Dr. Sandipan Mukherjee, Scientist E, Govind Ballabh Pant 'National Institute of Himalayan Environment (GBPHIED) who talked about understanding Climate Change: Himalayan Context. He stressed that climate change is exerting multifaceted impacts globally and in the Himalayan region through interconnected changes in atmospheric circulation, cryosphere dynamics, forest productivity, and disturbance regimes. 

The subsequent sessions were delivered by Prof. Baljit Singh, Head, Department of Political Science, University of Jammu. In his first lecture, he provided an insightful analysis of climate equity and the geopolitics of climate change, highlighting issues of historical responsibility and climate justice. The final session of the day will be delivered by Prof. Sudesh Yadav, School of Environmental Sciences, JNU, New Delhi, who will speak on atmospheric greenhouse gases, aerosols, and air quality. His lecture will focus on the sources and sinks of major greenhouse gases and explore the interlinkages between climate change, air pollution, and human health.

The sessions scheduled during the course of the workshop will be led by an outstanding panel of experts from premier institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; IIT Jammu; G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora and Ladakh Regional centre, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun; TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi; WWF-India’ Council on Environment, Energy and Water(CEEW) New Delhi, and the leading universities and government departments of the region.

The workshop is being organised by Dr. Rakesh Kumar (Organizing Secretary) under the supervision of Prof. Deepika Slathia, Convener & Head, with the active support of the organizing committee comprising of Prof. Piyush Malaviya, Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Dr. Anshu Gupta and Dr. Suresh Kumar along with the scholars and staff of the department.

The workshop will feature expert lectures, interactive sessions, panel discussions, and deliberations focusing on climate risks, human vulnerability, disaster management, adaptation strategies, and policy interventions. It is expected to significantly contribute to capacity building and knowledge exchange among participants.