Lok Sabha Question No. 342 (STARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: Paris Agreement on Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Midhun Reddy, Pocha Brahmananda Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 342

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2021

## Paris Agreement on Climate Change

## *342.  SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the threat posed by climate change to the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken measures for achieving the goals/targets set under the Paris Climate Agreement;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the progress made so far in this regard;
- (d) whether India will be able to achieve the goals under the Paris Climate Agreement;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor and the further measures proposed to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

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

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (F) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 342 DUE TO THE REPLY ON 19.03.2021 RAISED BY SHRI  P.V.  MIDHUN  REDDY  AND  SHRI  POCHA  BRAHMANANDA  REDDY  ON PARIS AGREEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

(a) Climate Change is a global environmental challenge and there are studies projecting varied impacts  including,  inter  alia,  changes  in  patterns  of  temperature  and  precipitation  and increased  frequency  and  intensity  of  extreme  weather  events.  The  Government  has  taken cognizance  of  the  matter  and  has  been  assessing  climate  change  over  the  years  through various Ministries and Agencies.

India Meteorological Department (IMD)  brings out the publication 'Annual Climate Summary'  at  the  end  of  every  year  that  features  highlights  of  climate  patterns  including temperature and rainfall over the country, long term changes since the year 1901 in all India temperature  and  rainfall  in  annual  and  seasonal  scales.  As  per  the  report  by  the  World Meteorological  Organization  (WMO),  the  average  global  temperature  for  2015-2019  is currently estimated  to be  1.1  degree  Celsius  above  pre-industrial  (1850-1900)  levels. According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the surface air temperature over India has risen by  about  0.7  °C  during  1901-2018  which  is  accompanied  with  an  increase  in  atmospheric moisture  content.  The  sea  surface  temperatures  in  the  tropical  Indian  Ocean  have  also increased by about 1 °C during 1951-2015.On an average, at present, the sea level along the Indian coast is estimated to be rising at about 1.7 mm/year.

(b) to (f) India  is  a  Party  to  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate Change  (UNFCCC),  its  Kyoto  Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. Under  the Paris Agreement,  India  has  submitted  its  Nationally  Determined  Contribution  (NDC)  outlining eight targets for 2021-2030, including (i) to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level, (ii) to  achieve about 40 per  cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030 with help of the transfer of technology and low-cost international finance, (iii) to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.The other targets pertain to sustainable lifestyles; climate friendly growth path; climate change adaptation; climate change finance; and capacity building and technology. These goals have to be achieved between 2021 and 2030.

The Government of India stands committed to combating climate change through its several programmes and schemes. National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) provides an overarching  framework  for  all  climate  actions.  NAPCC  comprises  of  eight  Missions  in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced  energy  efficiency,  habitat, water, sustaining Himalayan  ecosystems,  forestry,  agriculture  and  strategic  knowledge  for  climate  change. These Missions address issues relating to mitigation of greenhouse gases, and adaptation to the  adverse  impacts  of  climate  change  in  various  sectors  such  as  forests,  water  resources, agriculture etc. Thirty-three states and Union Territories have prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) consistent with the objectives of NAPCC for specific actions as per their vulnerabilities and sectoral priorities.

The  Government  is  also  implementing  projects  under  the  National  Adaptation  Fund  for Climate  Change  (NAFCC)  to  support  adaptation  measures  in  States/UTs  in  areas  that  are particularly  vulnerable  to  the  adverse  impacts  of  climate  change.  The  Government  has constituted  a  high-level  inter-ministerial  'Apex  Committee  for  Implementation  of  Paris

Agreement' (AIPA)to oversee the progress in implementation of India's NDC and to monitor, review and revisit climate goals to fulfil the requirements of the Paris Agreement.

Implementation of the NAPCC and other measures has led to a reduction in emission intensity of GDP by about 24% between 2005 and 2016. 24.56% of geographic area in the country is under  forest  and  tree  cover  and  carbon  sink  in  India's  forests  is  increasing.  Cumulative electric  installed  capacity  from  non-fossil  fuel  sources  stands  at  38.5%.India  is  on  track  to achieve its targets under the Paris Agreement for combating climate change.

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