New Delhi/Leh, Mar 18: Asserting that future climate action must rest on credible and detailed demographic evidence, Amit Sharma on Tuesday said that Census 2027 would form the backbone of India’s climate resilience planning, enabling policymakers to respond with precision to emerging environmental challenges.
Delivering the keynote address at the valedictory session of the Resilience & Sustainability Summit (RESSUMMIT 2026) hosted by Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee at its Greater Noida campus, Sharma—Director Census Operations and Director Citizen Registration under the Ministry of Home Affairs for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—outlined how the forthcoming Census could reshape the policy landscape.
The three-day summit brought together policymakers, vice chancellors, researchers, and representatives from institutions including the National Disaster Management Authority and the Department of Science and Technology, along with international experts, to deliberate on sustainability challenges.
Sharma drew attention to the rapid shifts in climatic patterns across the country, noting that regions spanning the Himalayas, the Northeast, and southern India are witnessing pronounced changes driven by global warming and evolving lifestyle patterns. He cautioned that such changes require a calibrated and data-oriented response rather than fragmented interventions.
Highlighting the scope of Census 2027, Sharma said the exercise would go beyond traditional population counts to capture granular household-level indicators, including access to digital devices such as mobile phones, internet connectivity, and televisions. This, he explained, would help authorities assess consumption behaviour, waste generation, and the scope for recycling and reuse—critical components in designing sustainable systems.
Drawing upon his administrative experience across Ladakh, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh and other regions, Sharma emphasised that climate challenges differ sharply across geographies and therefore require localised, evidence-based strategies.
He also shared insights from initiatives undertaken in Ladakh during his tenure across key departments. Among these were the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell buses in public transport, promotion of electric vehicles for freight, and strengthening disaster preparedness through earthquake mock drills and the deployment of an NDRF unit.
Additional efforts included studies on Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risks, workshops on managing geothermal resources such as hot springs, exploration of natural gas reserves in Puga, and expansion of solar energy projects. These measures, Sharma noted, are aligned with the broader objective of transitioning Ladakh towards a net-zero emission trajectory.
Commending the structure of RESSUMMIT 2026, Sharma observed that its focus on climate knowledge, regional vulnerabilities, health, industry, and policy dialogue reflects the multi-dimensional nature of sustainability challenges.
The session was attended by Prof Anil K. Gupta, organisational chair of the summit; Prof Saket Kushwaha, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ladakh; Dr Andre Lindner of Dresden University of Technology, Germany; and Prof Kalachand Sain, chairperson of the Expert Committee under the National Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem.
Organisers, in their concluding remarks, said the deliberations had reinforced the urgency of integrating scientific insight with governance frameworks, while noting that Census 2027 is widely awaited as a tool to strengthen climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Sharma’s remarks underscored an emerging policy direction—placing data at the centre of climate governance—as India prepares to navigate the growing pressures of environmental change.
