As the first step towards a firm government response on the threats posed by global warming, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday has announced setting up of a national centre on climate change which will study the impacts of climate change and suggest possible mitigation measures.

The research agenda for the proposed centre, to be located in Pune, is being chalked out by an expert panel headed by Dr R Chidambaram, the principle scientific advisor to the government, Singh said while inaugurating the 95th session of the Indian Science Congress here.

Generation of reliable data related to climate change events like melting of Himalayan glaciers and improves its analysis, according to the Prime Minister, would be an integral part of the research. 

‘Pro-active response’
In addition, the Prime Minister’s council on climate change and the Planning Commission were working on a national action plan as India’s “pro-active response” to the challenges posed by climate change, he said. The Prime Minister’s announcement came close on the heels of last month’s crucial UN summit at Bali where India’s performance in tackling climate change came under scanner.

In line with the PM’s directive on more climate change research, Union science minister Kapil Sibal has promised modernising the Indian Meteorological Department within the next two years for which the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had sanctioned Rs 920 crore last month.