Pune, September 11: THE Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is all set to soon start a new centre to study the impact of global warming and climatic changes at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in the city. This information was provided by Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Kapil Sibal in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha recently.

The decision to come up with such an institute was taken at a discussion and brainstorming held on June 1 in the city, organised by the MoES, involving experts on climate change and representatives from concerned ministries, non-governmental organisations, academic and scientific institutions. It was also decided at the meet to launch a co-ordinated research programme on climatic changes to study associated aspects.

According to sources at the IITM, the new centre will purely focus on scientific research. The institute is readying a report for the same, sources added. Interestingly, this could be the first institute in the country to have a separate centre that will focus purely on scientific research in climate change.

The research would help evolve policies ranging from emission, energy saving and technology devices, sources said.

The IITM undertakes and encourages research aimed at advancing existing knowledge in atmospheric sciences by identifying, planning, collaborating and conducting research programmes on problems of national and international importance. Functioning as a national centre for basic and applied research in monsoon meteorology and to be housed in a separate wing, the new centre will concentrate on monsoon meteorology of India and neighbourhood in specific.

With the minister reiterating that there was lack of research in the field, the centre would be devoted to focus on scientific research in climatic changes and its effects. According to sources, scientists would be carrying out extensive research by collating data from other institutions working in the area of climate forecast.