Lok Sabha Question No. 1656 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-27
Subject: Impact of Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAJESH VERMA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1656

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2018

## Impact of Climate Change

## 1656. SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

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

- (a) whether due to impact of climate change several species of living organisms are on the verge of extinction and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  of  impact  of  climate  change  on nutrient quality of food grain thereby resulting in increase in cases of malnutrition among children;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  corrective  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  save  living  organisms  from extinction and minimize the impact of climate change on production of foodgrains?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Global warming adversely affects vegetation as well as animal habitat. According to 4 th Assessment report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published in 2007, it is estimated that on an average 20 to 30% of species assessed are likely to be at increasingly  high  risk  of  extinction  from  climate  change  impacts  possibly  within  this century as global mean temperatures exceed 2°C to 3°C relative to pre-industrial levels. As global average temperature exceeds 4°C above pre-industrial levels, model projections suggest significant extinction of 40-70% species assessed around the globe. Further, a study conducted by the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development has reported that in the western Himalayan Region, many food crops are on the verge of local extinction.
- (b&c)Under  the  National  Innovations  on  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture  (NICRA)  project  of Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR),  research  has  indicated  that  increased level  of  CO2  reduces  content  of  iron  and  zinc  and  protein  in  maize  grains.  However, specific studies to assess the impact of climate change on nutrient quality of food grains resulting in malnutrition among children have not been undertaken.
- (d) The  Government  has  enacted  the  Biological  Diversity  Act,  2002  with  the  objective  to conserve  biological  resources,  sustainable  use  of  its  components  and  fair  and  equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources. The Act empowers the Central Government in consultation with the concerned State Government to notify from time to time any species which are on the verge of extinction or likely to become extinct in the near future as threatened species, and prohibit or regulate their collection, and also to take appropriate steps to rehabilitate and preserve those species.

The Government of India has established a country-wide protected area network with 769 Protected Areas including 103 National Parks, 544 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 46 Community Reserves and 76 Conservation Reserves in different biogeographic regions, which primarily covers habitats of threatened flora and fauna.

ICAR has developed 623 District Contingency Plans addressing adaptation to climate change in agriculture sector. Several agriculture research organizations under ICAR and Government at Centre and State level are promoting adaptation measures such as mulch management, crop residue recycling, reduction of tillage, application of organic manure, soil testing and balanced nutrition, and soil health program which help in enhancing crop yield/ productivity and biodiversity. Further, the agriculturally important micro organisms are being given special focus by isolating them for ameliorating the abiotic stresses.

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