Lok Sabha Question No. 3343 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Effects of Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3343

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2020

## Effects of Climate Change

## 3343. MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

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

- (a) whether keeping in view the recurrent floods in Mumbai  and  Chennai, the Government has prepared an action plan to mitigate the effects of climate change and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  protect  the  poor  families  living  in vulnerable housing areas from such floods and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  allowed  commercial  projects  in  coastal  areas  by amending coastal zone regulation rules which has further increased the vulnerability of people in such areas and if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken in this regard; and
- (d) whether  the  National  Green  Tribunal  has  directed  the  Ministry  to  decrease  the timeline and increase the targeted reduction of particulate matter as per the National Clean Air Programme and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b)The  Second  National  Communication  submitted  by  India  to  United  Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)indicates that the impacts ofclimate change  will  be  particularly  severe  in  low-elevationcoastal  zones,  where  many  of  India's largest cities arelocated, including the mega cities of Mumbai and Chennai. The Government is  implementing  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (NAPCC)  which  comprises  of missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, agriculture, Himalayan eco-system, sustainable habitat, green India and strategic knowledge on climate change. Most of  these  Missions,  inter-alia,  focus  on  adaptation  to  adverse  impacts  of  climate  change. Thirty-three States/Union Territories including the States of Maharashtra and Tamilnadu have prepared their State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with NAPCC taking into  account  State's  specific  issues  relating  to  climate  change.  These  SAPCCs  inter-alia outline sector specific and cross sectoral priority actions. The Government  is also implementing  the  scheme,  'National  Adaptation  Fund  for  Climate  Change'  to  support adaptation  measures  of  States/UTs  in  areas  that  are  particularly  vulnerable  to  the  adverse impacts of climate Change.Furthermore, National Disaster Management Authority has issued several disaster specific guidelines for managing extreme weather-related disasters including floods.Each  state  has  its  own  State  Disaster  Management  Authority  to  deal  with  extreme weather events.

(c) The Ministry has issued a new Coastal Regulation Zone Notification in January 2019 in supersession  of  the  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  Notification,  2011. The  newCoastal  Zone Regulation  2019  has  been  framed  after  undertaking  wide  range  of  consultations  with  all stakeholders  and  based  on  the  recommendations  of  a  Committee  of  Experts  constituted specifically  for  the  task  of scientifically  addressing  the issues  of  coastal  regions.  This  new regulation  lays  due  emphasis  on  management  and  conservation  of  marine  and  coastal ecosystems,  development  in  coastal  areas,  eco-tourism,  livelihood  options,  sustainable development of coastal communities, etc. and commercial projects have to obtain environment clearance (EC) if they fall in the CRZ areas as per guidelines.

(d)The Ministry has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) on 10 th January2019 as a national level strategy for pan India implementation to reduce air pollution levels across the country through strategies for local, city, regional and transboundary levels. NCAP is a midterm,  five-year  action  plan  keeping  2019  as  the  base  year.  Taking  into  account  available international  experiences  and  national  studies,  tentative  national  level  target  of  20%-30% reduction  of  PM2.5  and  PM10  concentration  by  2024  is  proposed  under  NCAP.  This  is keeping  2017  as  base  year  for  comparison  of  concentration.  The  Hon'ble  National  Green Tribunal in O.A. No. 681 of 2018 in its order dated 20.11.2019 ordered that ' Having regard to  adverse  impact  on  public  health  and  constitutional  mandate  that  right  to  clean  air  is  a fundamental  right,  the  Ministry  of  Environment,Forest  &Climate  Change  may  modify  the NCAP by reducing the timelines and increasing the target for reduction of air pollution '. The cities  are  developing  their  own  plans  under  NCAP  based  on  local  emission  sources  and related factors.

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