Science Express train to create awareness on climate change

Science Express train to create awareness on climate change

Allahabad: The Indian Railways has brought out a special train called the 'Science Express Climate Action Special' (SECAS) to educate and create awareness among people about the environment. The train will roll into the station on Monday and remain there for four days.

The train was launched with combined efforts from the ministry of railways, the department of science and technology, the ministry of forest and climate change (MoEFCC), and the ministry of environment, according to a TOI report.

The train has 16 coaches in total, each of which is based on a particular theme based on climate change and its impacts, adaptation to these changes, mitigation on these grounds, emission reduction, and international negotiations on climate change. The themes also emphasize the role played by government institutions, organisations, schools and students in restoring environmental balance.

The Centre for Environment and Education (CEE) has set up an exhibition on eight coaches of the train on behalf of the MoEFCC.

The first coach describes climate as a system and shows how the current changes in nature is caused by humans. It deals with the greenhouse gas effect and the reasons for climate change.

The second coach shows the effects of climate change— the effect of temperature rise causing rise in sea level and variations in monsoon.

The third and fourth coaches depict the concept of adaptation to deal with climate change with examples from daily life. Strategies for adaptation are showcased along with field-work stories. The adaptation actions taken by India and the varying options for adaptation in urban and rural settings are also shown.

The fifth and sixth coaches discuss mitigation strategies which can lessen the climate change effects.

The seventh coach will introduce visitors to the international negotiations on climate change, including information on the Paris Agreement, the role of the United Nations, the work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and international roadmaps to deal with climate change.

The eighth coach deals with carbon handprint, which refers to the positive things one does towards reducing the effect their carbon footprint. It gives information on the changes a person can make in their lifestyle at home, school or in their workplace, towards this end. The key message it holds is 'Increase you Handprint, decrease your footprint.'

The Science Express Climate Action Special was jointly inaugurated at the New Delhi Safdarjung Station on October 15, by railways minister Suresh Prabhu, minister of science and technology and earth sciences Harsh Vardhan and minister of state for environment Prakash Javadekar.

The Science Express is scheduled to travel across the country for seven months, halting at 64 locations in 30 states covering 19,800 kms.

(image: sciencexpressphase7.wordpress)

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
NewsGram
www.newsgram.com