Assam Education Minister Highlights Climate Change Impact During Tree Plantation Initiative

In a recent event, Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu highlighted the potential influence of climate phenomena on the severe flooding in Upper Assam. During the launch of the 'Brikhya Bondhu' tree plantation initiative, he emphasized the importance of community involvement in combating climate change through afforestation. The program aims to engage over 20 lakh students in planting more than 1.5 crore saplings across the state. Pegu's remarks draw attention to the urgent need for environmental action as extreme weather events become more frequent. The initiative not only promotes tree planting but also encourages students to take long-term responsibility for Assam's green cover.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 11, 2026, 17:10 IST

Climate Change and Its Effects on Assam

Education Minister Pegu presents a sapling to a student during the ‘Brikhya Bondhu’ programme at Kalakshetra on Tuesday. (Photo:@ranojpeguassam/X)

Guwahati, Aug 11: In light of the recent catastrophic floods that impacted Upper Assam, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu suggested that a climate phenomenon akin to El Niño might have contributed to the severe weather conditions experienced in the region.

During the launch of the “Brikhya Bondhu” initiative at Srimanta Shankardev Kalakshetra on Tuesday, Pegu emphasized that climate change is a worldwide issue, with its repercussions increasingly evident in Assam.

“While various theories circulate regarding the causes of the recent flooding in Upper Assam, scientists propose that a phenomenon similar to El Niño occurring in the Pacific Ocean, known as the Indian Ocean Dipole, is influencing our weather patterns,” Pegu explained.

He drew attention to extreme weather occurrences globally, referencing unprecedented heatwaves in Europe, which highlight the escalating effects of climate change across different regions.

Emphasizing the importance of community involvement in combating climate change, he stated, “Afforestation and planting trees are the primary tools available to the public to enhance green cover.”

Regarding the floods on July 19, Pegu remarked, “We experienced a situation unlike anything seen in the past century. What caused this? The temperatures are rising, and just days ago, we faced heavy rainfall.”

The “Brikhya Bondhu” initiative is a key aspect of the state’s Amrit Brikhya Andolan, aiming to engage over 20 lakh students from Class VI and above to plant more than 1.5 crore saplings throughout Assam over a span of four days.

Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, addressing the audience, stated that the campaign seeks to inspire the youth towards environmental stewardship as India nears its 80th year of independence.

“Our goal is to plant over 1.5 crore saplings with the help of more than 20 lakh students across Assam within four days,” he noted.

Mallabaruah added that the government would track the survival of the saplings through geo-tagged images uploaded post-planting and again in January.

Participants will receive online certificates, and the monitoring will continue for six months to ensure the saplings are well cared for.

As part of this initiative, every student who plants 10 saplings will earn the title of “Brikhya Bondhu,” symbolizing their ongoing commitment to preserving and nurturing Assam’s greenery.