Lok Sabha Question No. 348 (STARRED), answered on 2018-08-10
Subject: Threat of Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *348

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2018

## Threat of Climate Change

*348. SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  at  the  recently  concluded  World  Sustainable  Development  Summit,  India  has committed to protect the environment;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the annual budget allocation for tackling the threat of climate change does not reflect the above commitment;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e)  OF THE  LOK SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *348  REGARDING  'THREAT  OF  CLIMATE  CHANGE' RAISED BY SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI) DUE FOR REPLY ON 10.08.2018.

(a) and (b): Yes, Madam.  Details are given at Annexure-I.

(c) to (e) Climate  change  is  a  Global  problem  arising  out  of  historical  emissions  of greenhouse  gases  starting  with  industrial  development  in  developed  countries.  Internationally countries  are  coordinating  actions  under  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate Change  (UNFCCC)  and  its  Kyoto  Protocol  2 nd Commitment  Period  and  Paris  Agreement  to combat climate change.

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) comprises of eight Missions namely National  Solar  Mission  (NSM);  National  Mission  on  Enhanced  Energy  Efficiency  (NMEEE); National  Mission  on  Sustainable  Habitat  (NMSH);  National  Water  Mission  (NWM);  National Mission for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA);  National  Mission  for  Sustaining  the  Himalayan Ecosystem  (NMSHE);  Green  India  Mission  (GIM);  and  National Mission on Strategic Knowledge  for  Climate  Change  (NMSKCC),  which  address  issues  relating  to  mitigation  and adaptation to combat the adverse impacts of climate change on the environment, forests, habitat, water resources and agriculture. It outlines a number of steps to simultaneously advance India's development and climate change related objectives of adaptation and mitigation.

All  the  missions  are  institutionalized  by  respective  nodal  ministries/departments  and  are under various stages of implementation.  Funds are allocated for the missions, as a part of annual budgetary allocations, by respective Ministries.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is implementing two Central Sector Schemes namely, Climate Change Action Programme (CCAP) and National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).

The objective of NAFCC is to fund concrete adaptation projects/ programmes aligned with the relevant Missions under NAPCC and the State Action Plans on Climate. Change based on climate scenario and vulnerability analysis and build capacity of stakeholders to adapt to climate change through various initiatives and lesson learning. The total allocation towards NAFCC for remaining period 2017-2020 (ending on 31 st March, 2020) is Rs. 364 Crore. Till date, 27 projects with the total project cost of Rs. 673.61 crores have been approved under NAFCC.

Climate Change Action Programme (CCAP) is in operation since 2014. The objective of the  scheme is  to  create and  strengthen  the  scientific and  analytical  capacity  for  assessment  of climate change in the country, putting in place appropriate institutional framework for scientific and  policy  initiatives  and  implementation  of  climate  change  related  actions  in  the  context  of sustainable  development.  The  key  activities  of  the  scheme  include  Coordination  of  National Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (NAPCC),  State  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (SAPCC), National  Carbonaceous  Aerosols  Programme  (NCAP),  Long  Term  Ecological  Observatories (LTEO) for Climate Change Studies, International negotiations and contributions and Capacity Building, etc. The total allocation towards funds for 2017-2020 (ending on 31 st March 2020) is Rs. 132.40 crores.

## Annexure-I

The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) was organized by The Energy and Resources  Institute  (TERI)  in  New  Delhi  on  15-17  February,  2018.  WSDS  is  a  flagship programme of TERI, which is a 'not  for profit'  organization.      Excerpts  of  reiterated  India's commitment to protect the environment in the said Summit are given below:

- -International  Solar  Alliance:  It  already  has  121  members.  It  is  perhaps,  the  single  most important  global  achievement  after  Paris  Agreement  on  Climate  Change.  As  part  of  the Nationally  Determined  Contributions,  India  committed  to  reducing  33  to  35  percent  of emission intensity of its GDP during 2005 to 2030.
- -Our goal of creating a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 had once seemed difficult to many. Yet we continue our steady progress on that path. According to the UNEP Gap Report, India is on track to meet its Copenhagen Pledge of  reducing  the  emissions  intensity  of  its  GDP  by  20  to  25  percent  over  2005  levels  by 2020.
- -On track to meet the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution
- -We also recognize the need to tackle the issue of water availability, which is becoming a major challenge. That is why we have introduced the massive Namami Gange initiative. This programme which has already started giving results will soon revive the Ganga, our most precious river.
- -Continued availability of water for agriculture is of importance. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has been launched to ensure that no farm goes without water. Our motto is 'More crop, per drop.'
- -India has gained international recognition for 10 out of its 18 Biosphere Reserves under UNESCO's Man and Biosphere programme. This is a testimony that our development is green and our wildlife is robust.
- -Ujjwala  and  Saubhagya  -  From  the  time  that  they  were  launched,  these  schemes  have already  impacted  the  lives  of  millions.  With  these  twin  programmes,  the  time  when mothers  would  fetch  dry  wood  from  forests  or  prepare  cow  dung  cakes,  to  feed  their families will be gone soon. Soon too, the images of traditional firewood stoves will only remain a picture in our social history texts.
- -To give employment to our youth, we have decided to make India a global manufacturing hub. We have launched the Make in India campaign for this. However, at the same time, we are insisting on Zero defect and zero effect manufacturing.
- -One 175 Giga-Watts of energy from renewable sources by 2022.This includes 100 GigaWatts  from  Solar  Energy  and  another  75Giga-Watts  from  Wind  and  other  sources.  We
- have added more than14 Giga-Watts to solar energy generation which was just about three Giga-Watts three years back.
- -With this, we are already the fifth largest producer of solar energy in the world. Not only this, we are also the sixth largest producer of renewable energy.
- -With growing urbanization our transportation needs are growing too. But we are focusing on mass transportation systems especially metro rail systems. Even for cargo movement to long distances, we have started working on national water-way systems. Each of our states is preparing an action plan against climate change.

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