Lok Sabha Question No. 2289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Global Rise in Temperatures
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Nama Nageswara Rao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2289

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.09.2020

## Global Rise in Temperatures

## 2289. SHRI NAMA NAGESWARA RAO:

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

- (a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that as per a recent UN report, there could be a 3-5degree rise in temperature compared to pre-industrialization levels globally, if so, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government has laid down any roadmap to educate / create awareness for people  towards  adopting  a  environment-friendly  lifestyle,  if  so,  the  details  thereof; and
- (c) the concrete steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) Several  reports  from  various  organisations  in  the  UN  system  have  periodically considered the potential increase in global temperatures. The extent of such increase can be limited  depending  on  the  extent  to  which  all  countriesare  able  to  reduce  or  control  the increase  in  greenhouse  gas  (GHG)  emissions.  There  is  a  significant  probability  of  global temperature increase of 3 to 5°C, compared to pre-industrialization levels, occurring by the end of the century if collectively the world cannot curb GHG emissions.

Climate change is a global phenomenon and requires action from all countries based on the principles  of  'Equity'  and  'Common  but  Differentiated  Responsibilities  and  Respective Capabilities'.  Reports  from  various  sources  including  the  Intergovernmental  Panel  on Climate Change (IPCC) highlight that the challenges faced due to global warming are mainly due to cumulative historical and current greenhouse gas emissions of the developed countries.

(b) and (c) The inclusion of sustainable lifestyles as well climate justice in the preamble of the Paris Agreement was ensured by India for bringing these ideas to the centre of climate action.India  has  communicated  Nationally  Determined  Contributions  to  the  UNFCCC  in 2015 with the first NDC goal being 'To put forward and further propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions and values of conservation and moderation.' Goal 2 of the NDC is 'To adopt a climate friendly and a cleaner path than the one followed hitherto by others at corresponding level of economic development.' Keeping these goals in mind,  the  Government  has  taken  several  initiatives  to  educate/create  awareness  for  people towards adopting a environment-friendly lifestyle.

Some of the key initiatives of the Government in this regard in the national arena include the National Green Corps, which aims at building a cadre of young children working towards environmental  conservation  and  sustainable  development,  including  climate  change.  As  a part  of  the  initiative,  approximately  160,000  Eco  clubs  are  functioning  across  the  country, making it one of the largest environmental networks that enable activities on relevant issues connecting  children,  youth,  and  the  general  public.  The  Government  has  also  launched  a School Nursery Yojana to involvestudentsin planting and growing saplings in nurseries in the schools. Further,'Green Good Deeds' campaign is a societal movement launched to protect the environment and promote sustainable lifestyles across the country.

India's  other  bigclimate  change  awareness  programme  was  the  'Science  Express  Climate Action  Special  Train'  (SECAS)  -  a  mobile  exhibition  on  climate  change  aimed  to  create awareness among various sections of society, especially students. Millions of people, mainly students, visited the train withtheir participation in the climate change awareness programme at the Railway platforms.

To promote sustainable lifestyles, sustainable production and consumption, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has brought out three knowledge products, namely, (i)  Parampara  India's  Culture  of  Climate  Friendly  Sustainable  Practices  (2015)  (ii)  Low Carbon Lifestyles - Right Choices For Our Planet (2016), and (iii) Samanvay Harmonizing Traditions and Modernity (2017) (http://moef.gov.in/division/environment-divisions/climatechangecc-2/natcom/).

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