Lok Sabha Question No. 19 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-15
Subject: Deaths due to Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV, RAJAN BABURAO  VICHARE

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO . 19

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2017

## Deaths due to Climate Change

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## 19. SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV: SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  any  latest  assessment  by  the  World  Health Organisation  (WHO)  which  shows  that  climate  change  is  likely  to  kill  250,000  more people each year by 2030 to which India is expected to contribute significantly to these deaths to be caused by malaria, diarrhoeal disease, heat stress and malnutrition;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  climate  change  is  already  causing  thousands  of  deaths  every  year  due  to increased frequency of epidemics and extreme weather events such as cloudburst, floods and heat waves;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) & (b) The Government is aware of a Report of the WHO titled, 'Quantitative risk assessment of the effects of climate change on selected causes of death, 2030s and 2050s.' However, the Report does not contain any detailed analysis specifically for India.
- (c)  &  (d) The  latest  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC)  assessment  report (2014)  highlights  that  mean  surface  temperature  of  the  globe  has  risen  by  0.85  degree Celsius  ±  0.18  degree  Celsius.  However,  all  India  mean  temperature  has  risen  around 0.64  degree  Celsius  over  the  last  110  years,  which  may  contribute  to  extreme  weather events. Climate Change adds to the existing stresses and it is difficult to establish direct and specific correlation / causation between these events and climate change.
- (e) The Government has launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in June  2008  to  deal  with  the  issues  related  to  climate  change.  NAPCC  comprises  eight missions  in  specific  areas  of  Solar  Energy,  Enhanced  Energy  Efficiency,  Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystems, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic  Knowledge for Climate Change. Thirty two States and Union Territories (UTs) have also prepared State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) consistent with the objectives of NAPCC, highlighting State specific issues relating to Climate Change.

Climate  Change  mitigation  requires  action  on  a  global  level.  Government  of  India, despite having no binding obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on  Climate  Change  (UNFCCC),  announced  its  voluntary  goal  to  reduce  the  emission intensity  of  its  GDP.  The  United  Nations  Environment  Programme  (UNEP),  in  its Emissions  Gap  Report  2017,  has  recognized  India  as  one  of  the  countries  on  track  to achieving  its  voluntary  goal.  Government  of  India  has  also  embarked  upon  ambitious actions in the areas of renewable energy, afforestation, energy efficiency, planned urban development etc.

A new Mission on Climate Change and Health has been added. A National Expert Group on Climate Change and Health has been subsequently constituted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to address the issues related to adverse effects of Climate Change on human Health through appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures, which are being strengthened.

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