Lok Sabha Question No. 1123 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-22
Subject: Study on Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1123

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2016

## Study on Climate Change

## 1123. SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO:

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

- (a) the  number  of  expert  studies  taken  up  by  any  professional  committee  to  find  out  the impact of climate change in view of the deteriorating climatic scenario across the globe and in the country during the last one year;
- (b) the terms of reference of the committees which undertook such studies;
- (c) the findings of the said studies and the status of its implementation thereof;
- (d) whether such findings has helped in tackling climate change and growing threat to the environment; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) to (e) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) constituted by the World Meteorological  Organisation  in  cooperation  with  United  Nations  Environment Programme is an internationally  recognised  body  of  professional  experts having  a mandate to assess research on climate change and present its findings in the form of ''assessment reports'' every 5-7 years. The Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of IPCC is the latest in a series of such reports released during the period 2013-14. AR5 consists of  three Working Group Reports and a Synthesis Report. Some salient features of AR5 are as follows:
- Global  temperatures  have  risen  by  about  0.8°C  over  the  last  century  and  sea levels have risen by about 20 cm.
- In many regions, snow and rainfall patterns have changed.
- Snow, ice, permafrost and glaciers are melting at the poles and around the rest of the world.
- Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. For example, heat waves are lasting longer and becoming more intense.

However, IPCC Reports do not provide country level assessment on the impact of climate  change.  Such  country  level  assessments  are  conducted  as  part  of  National Communication (NATCOM) prepared by the Government of India periodically. The 2 nd National  Communication  to  the  United  Nation  Framework  Convention  on Climate  Change  (UNFCCC) was submitted  by  the  Government  in  2012.The  First Biennial Update Report (BUR) to UNFCCC was submitted by the Government on 22 January 2016.

In addition, a scientific study to assess the impact of climate change was undertaken and a report  entitled  'Climate  Change  and  India:  A  4X4  Assessment  - A  Sectoral and  Regional  Analysis  for  2030s'  was  published  in  2010.  The  study  assessed impacts  of  climate  change  on  four  key  sectors  of  Indian  economy,  namely, agriculture,  water,  forests  and  human  health  in  four  climate  sensitive  regions  of India, namely, the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal region and the North-Eastern Region.

The  above  study  projects  a  variable  rate  of  change  in  agriculture  production including  losses  in  some  crops,  change  in  the  composition  of  the  forests  and  net primary productivity. The extreme precipitation events are likely to increase in all the regions. Water yield is projected to increase in the Himalayan Region, whereas it is likely to be variable across other three regions. Malaria is projected to spread to new areas and threats of its transmission are likely to increase for longer duration.

The  above  studies  have  helped  in  assessing  emissions  of  greenhouse  gases  and identification  of  climatic  impacts,  risks and  vulnerability  of  different  sectors. Further,  the  studies  have  also  led  to  formulation  of State  Action  Plans  on  Climate Change,  as  well  as,  various  policies,  measures  and  programmes  at  the  national levelwith a view to addressing the threat of climate change.

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