Shillong: As part of the G20 Summit, which is being hosted by the government of India, the Meghalayan government on Thursday opened a two-day conference titled “Nature Solved: A New Framework for Our Sustainable Future” to address the pressing issue of climate change.

The Meghalaya Basin Development Agency (MBDA), a state organisation, and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a climate think tank, are organising the event together.

Members of the United Nations as well as representatives from Mexico, Sri Lanka, Kenya, France, Nepal, the United States, Bangladesh, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, the Maldives, and Rome. Participating in the event are prestigious organisations like the World Economic Forum, SEWA India, ASCON India, South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA), and TERI India.

During the inaugural session, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma delivered the keynote address, underlining the reality of the climate change crisis. He stressed the critical need to strike a balance between sustainable economic progress and environmental concerns by integrating green and sustainable ideas into development initiatives.

Speaking about power supply, Sangma highlighted Meghalaya’s significant coal deposits and the potential solution offered by thermal power plants and also stressed on the importance of finding environmentally conscious approaches to address power problems.

Sangma further emphasised the connection of Meghalaya’s indigenous tribes to nature and biodiversity, underscoring how they have always “upheld the responsibility of protecting this heaven for ages”.

Sangma advocated the creation of yearly conferences through the Centre of Excellence project in response to climate change, rising pollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and other environmental challenges. The project, he explained, intends to provide people the chance to “experience, learn, and start dialogues on various topics, such as climate change and other environmental related issues,” especially students.

(This story has not been edited by Bharat Express staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)