On 15th October 2015 Dr. Harsh Vardhan along with Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and Shri Prakash Javadekar flagged off the special train named ‘Science Express Climate Action Special’.
Theme of the Science Express – Climate Change
The Science Express – Climate Change Special (SECCS) is a joined initiative of Department of Science & Technology and Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and Ministry of Railway, Government of India.
The eight months journey of the train will end by 7th May 2016,and stops at 64 locations across India.Some of the locations are Patiala, Jaisalmer, Agra, Ambala, New Jalpaiguri, Vishakhapatnam, Vellore, Rameswaram, Mangalore and Gandhinagar.
Aim of SECCS :
To create awareness among various sections of the society, especially the students, about various issues & challenges associated with Climate Change and how it can be combated through mitigation and adaptation.
The broad theme covered in each coach is as follows(total 16 coaches ):
Coach 1 – Understanding Climate Change: The physical science of climate system, climate change- its causes & history- and industrial revolution & concept that all systems are connected.
Coach 2 – Impact of Climate Change: Introduction to concept of ecosystem services, Climate Change impacts on selected ecosystems and sectors and also how to reduce it..
Coach 3 – Adaptation-concepts: Concepts of adaptation and example form day to day life, adaptation strategies and stories from field.
Coach 4 – Adaptation-India’s action: Various national, state and local level action and adaptation programmes and their links with national strategies and international actions.
Coach 5 – Mitigation-concepts: Concept and definition with examples from everyday life, emphasis on restoring balance, enhancing sinks (carbon stores) and reducing emission through renewable energy (RE) technologies.
Coach 6 – Mitigation- India’s action: Various national, state and local level action and adaptation programme implemented by India and how those are linked with national strategies and international actions. Low carbon strategies, ambitious goal to increase RE.
Coach 7 – International negotiation on Climate Change: Introduction to UNFCCC, IPCC and internationally agreed action & targets. Explaining concept of equity and common but differential responsibility, Polluter pays, Kyoto protocol and other key outcomes of major COP, etc. Introduction to Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC).
Coach 8 – Handprint: What can one do at school, on roads, at home and in offices and focus on concept of lifestyle choices?
Other coaches exhibits on themes like Wildlife and Nature Conservation work being carried out by different research institutions across India with focus on Tigers, Turtles, Coral Reefs, Amphibians, etc. besides development in field of Biotechnology, Innovations in S&T, Science Education, Schemes of DST, Careers in S&T.
A new global climate deal aimed at controlling global carbon emission for tackling global warming will be takes place in December in Paris.More than 190 countries will meet under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences – Dr. Harsh Vardhan
Railway Minister – Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu
Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change – Shri Prakash Javadekar