Hyderabad: French Ambassador François Richier on Thursday exhorted all stakeholders to recognise climate change as an important part of the growth agenda.
He said that his government was willing to collaborate with the TS government in irrigation and drinking water projects among others and added that France had full confidence in the future and policies of the TS government.
Speaking at the University of Hyderabad, Mr Richier said every citizen should manage his or her consumption pattern and businesses should make use of clean technologies and solar power for their electricity needs.
Quoting Indian examples, he said that Nagaland was witnessing drying rivers, there was a southward progress of deserts in Gujarat and sea levels were rising. He said that the ill effects of climate change must be checked and this could be done only through multi-stakeholder participation.
Apart from the governments, he said that scientists, the business community, civil society and individuals also had a crucial role to play in climate change management. Ambassador Richer also cited examples from France like the plan to completely ban use and production of plastic bags by 2016. He added that in the 1970s, France had started using nuclear energy which now meets 65 per cent of its needs.
