NEADS Participates in COP31, Brings Grassroots Climate Priorities of Assam to Global Platform

GUWAHATI, November 9, 2026 — Tirtha Prasad Saikia, Director of NEADS, attends the UN climate conference as an observer delegate, highlighting locally led adaptation, climate justice and the concerns of vulnerable communities.

North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS), a grassroots humanitarian and development organisation based in Jorhat, Assam, is participating in the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), being held in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.

Tirtha Prasad Saikia, Director of NEADS, is attending the global climate conference as a UNFCCC Observer Delegate, representing the organisation and bringing grassroots perspectives from Assam and Northeast India to the international platform.

COP31 brings together governments, international institutions, climate experts, civil society organisations, indigenous peoples' representatives, researchers and development practitioners to discuss critical climate challenges and advance global climate action.

Key areas of discussion include climate finance, loss and damage, locally led adaptation, just transition, indigenous peoples' rights, nature-based solutions, biodiversity conservation, climate-resilient agriculture, food security and climate-induced disasters.

For NEADS, participation in COP31 provides an opportunity to highlight the experiences and priorities of climate- and disaster-affected communities in Assam and Northeast India. Located within the Eastern Himalayan landscape, the region faces growing climate-related challenges, including recurrent floods, riverbank erosion, ecosystem degradation, livelihood insecurity and extreme weather events.

Drawing on its longstanding work in humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, agroecology and indigenous peoples' rights, NEADS is engaging in thematic discussions, civil society dialogues and knowledge exchanges with international organisations and development partners.

The organisation is particularly focusing on strengthening locally led adaptation, improving access to climate finance for grassroots organisations, recognising indigenous knowledge systems, promoting agroecology and advancing community-centred approaches to climate resilience.

Speaking about NEADS' participation, Tirtha Prasad Saikia said, “Climate action must go beyond global commitments and translate into meaningful changes in the lives of communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The experiences of flood-affected and indigenous communities in Assam and Northeast India remind us that adaptation must be locally led, climate finance must reach the grassroots, and indigenous knowledge and community leadership must be recognised. We need to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are not only heard in global climate discussions but also reflected in decisions, policies and actions.”

NEADS is also highlighting the need to connect climate adaptation with disaster risk reduction, humanitarian preparedness and early recovery, particularly in flood-prone and ecologically vulnerable regions. It emphasises that climate action must be inclusive, locally driven, accountable and responsive to the needs of affected communities.

Through its participation at COP31, the organisation aims to strengthen partnerships, exchange knowledge and experiences, explore opportunities for collaboration and contribute to wider efforts towards climate justice, equitable climate finance and community-centred climate action.

With over four decades of experience in grassroots development and community engagement, NEADS continues to work towards strengthening the resilience and sustainable development of vulnerable communities across Assam. Its participation at COP31 reflects its commitment to amplifying grassroots voices and ensuring that local knowledge, experiences and priorities find meaningful representation in global climate policies and actions.