Gram panchayat members and state government officials acknowledged the need to strengthen the role of Panchayats and Panchayat level community institutions to deliberate, design and implement locally led climate actions in the second edition of the Conference of Panchayats (CoP) 2024; a climate action dialogue initiative hosted by the Policy and Development Advisory Group (PDAG), Asar, and Damodar Bachao Abhiyan in Ranchi. The event attended by participants across the state included Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) representatives, state government officials, climate experts, and civil society members, who discussed the escalating impacts of climate change in Jharkhand and explored community-driven strategies for resilience. Vandana Dadel, Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, who attended the forum highlighted that the states vulnerability to climate change and the critical need for integrating local perspectives and knowledge into state policies to foster sustainable development and build resilience against climate-induced challenges. The multiple panel discussions brought forth valuable insights on climate action. PRI representatives from Jharkhand shared narratives that showcased the use of indigenous knowledge and community-driven initiatives to adapt and build resilience against the effects of climate change. Climate practitioners from across India discussed successful strategies and best practices in climate adaptation and mitigation. The discussions emphasised the need for a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to tackle climate change in Jharkhand, exploring the integration of local community feedback into government plans and identifying successful collaboration models and potential funding mechanisms. We have been truly amazed by the interest of elected representatives, mukhiyas, women leaders, and CSOs in Jharkhand who have come forward to engage in this dialogue. Its inspiring to see how actively people are understanding and wanting to respond to the ways climate change is impacting their lives. They are determined to have a say in how climate action plans are developed. The Conference of Panchayats is an endeavour to make this happen, said Vintua Gopal, CEO, Asar Climate action has to begin from our homes. At the panchayat level, we, the elected representatives, are trying in our limited capacity to foster community owned and community led climate resilient initiatives. CoP 2.0 has given us a unique opportunity to learn, deliberate and implement learnings assimilated from our fellow PRI members across the states, said Chandradev Ghasi, Mukhiya, Bokaro. The dialogues at CoP 2024 event highlighted the unique strength of local communities, especially the tribal communities of Jharkhand in demonstrating climate resilience practices, and the significance of strengthening such endeavours at scale.

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