Kolkata: The civic body has started a certificate course on climate change and sustainable development for young professionals in a bid to prepare green warriors to take care of the environment. The course — Parivesh Yoddha — was launched by mayor Firhad Hakim at the KMC headquarters on Friday and 25 people have joined so far.
Environment scientists and researchers Abhijit Mitra, Swati Nandi Chakraborty, Arup Mitra, Rajrupa Ghosh and Sufia Zaman will take classes at the KMC headquarters to train the green warriors about climate change and its related issues, like ocean acidification, food security, zonation of marine environment, sea-level rise, carbon sequestration and carbon credit, global warming, waste disposal and other issues pertaining to sustainable environment.
According to plans, after the six-week course, these warriors will have to keep vigil on environmental pollution, water bodies and irresponsible construction works in their localities, and bring them to KMC’s notice.
“To bring about a change in the environment of the city, the civic body is depending on citizens, especially youths. The environment and heritage department of KMC took the initiative to rope in youths for protection of the city’s environment. Filing petitions in NGT is not environmental awareness. Rather, we should educate others on ways to keep the environment clean and green,” Hakim said.
Aparajita Mukherjee from Belgachhia said, “I joined the course to know more about climate change and its threats.” Jadavpur resident Madhurima Roy said, “It is time for us to fight climate change and take care of the city’s environment.”
Environment scientist Swati Nandi Chakraborty said, “I hope the initiative to generate green awareness among youths will well. Several environmental issues can be solved by community participation.”
Swapan Samaddar, MMiC overseeing the KMC’s environment and heritage department, said, “Graduates of any discipline, diploma-holding engineers, corporates and other professionals can join the course. The intake capacity for each course is 25.”
This is the first time a municipal body in India has started a course on climate change to generate environmental awareness, said environment scientist and researcher Abhijit Mitra, professor of a private university.