Domestic Initiatives To Counter Climate Change: Overview

Domestic Initiatives To Counter Climate Change: Overview

Question: India has taken several steps for addressing climate change. The National Action Plan on Climate Change has also been implemented. Discuss the domestic initiatives taken to counter climate change.

- India has taken many domestic initiatives for addressing climate change

- The National Action Plan on Climate Change to support domestic actions for adaptation and mitigation

- NAPCC has 8 National Missions including inter alia, the National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, and National Mission on Sustainable Habitat

- Focus is on reducing the GHG emissions in the country

- 27 states and 5 UTs have reappeared a State Action Plan on Climate Change consistent with NAPCC objectives

- State specific issues pertaining to climate change and strategies to tackle them are in place

- India is a non annex 1 country which is party to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

- Though it does not have legally binding commitment for reducing GHG

- Government has voluntarily announced the reduction of emission intensity of GDP by 20 to 25 percent by 2020 from the 2005 level

- Conference of Parties Around 1st October 2015 facilitates clarity, understanding and transparency of elaborate multi-stakeholder consultation process for finalising INDCs for submission ahead of the expected date

- As per the India: Greenhouse Gas Inventory report, net GHG emissions from India in the year 2007 with Land Use Charges and Forestry were 1727.71 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

- CO2 emissions were 1221.76 million tonnes

- CH4 emissions were 20.56 million tonnes

- N20/Nitrous Oxide emissions were 0.24 million tonnes

- Agriculture sector constitutes 17% and waste sector constituted 3% of the net CO2 eq emissions

- Energy sector emitted 1100.06 million tonnes of CO2 eq, from this 719.31 million tonnes of CO2 eq were emitted from electricity generation

- 142.04 million tonnes of CO2 eq from the transport sector, 137.84 from the residential and 100.87 million tonnes of CO2 eq were emitted from other energy sources

- Land use as well as Land Use Change and Forestry sector was a net sink which sequestered 177.03 million tonnes of CO2

- Government has also proposed revision of target of renewable energy capacity of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to 175 GW by 2022

- Revised target of 175 GW comprises capacity addition equalling 100 GW Solar, 60 GW Wind, 10G Biomass and 5 GW Small Hydro Power

- Of the major 2800 industries, 920 industries have been installed on 24/7 basis

- Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change has also suggested amendments to relevant provisions of Environment Protection Rules 1986 through the proposal of stringent norms and standards for compliance. This encapsulates various industries such as sugar, paint, pulp and paper, fertiliser, cement with co processing, brick kiln and textile.

- The objective is to control pollution, ensure energy efficiency, effective solid waste management, water conservation and zero liquid discharge

- NABARD has been appointed as National Implementing Entity responsible for implementation of adaptation projects under the NAFCC

- The template for project preparation and guidelines for implementation of the project have been put together

- Guidelines have outlined objectives, priorities, eligible activities, approval process, monitoring, implementation and evaluation mechanism

- Focus of the fund is for assisting adaptation projects and programmes for supporting concrete adaptation activities that lower the impact of climate change facing communities and sectors

- There is no provision for any external assistance to be credited to NAFCC

- Scheme has been recommended and approved by competent authority in July 2015

- No financial support from NAFCC has been provided for adaptation activities under National Action Plan on Climate Change and State Action Plan on Climate Change

- Adaptation Fund is for assisting states particularly vulnerable associated with needs and priorities identified under the SAPCC and relevant missions under NAPCC

Facts and Stats

- Government has also established the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change with budget provisions of INR 350 crores for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017

- Estimated requirement of INR 181.5 crores for the financial year 2017-2018

- Objective of the fund is for assisting to meet the cost of adaptation