Lok Sabha Question No. 3059 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-06
Subject: Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod

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

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO . 3059

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.12.2019

## Climate Change

## 3059. SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  a  note  of  study/report  which  has  highlighted  that fifteen lakhs of people may perish due to heat generated by climate change by the end of this century;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to formulate any scheme to counter the changes caused by climate change;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b) Different studies project varying impacts of climate change on different sectors. One such report titled 'Climate Change and Heat-Induced mortality in India', which is based on research work of Climate Impact Lab and Tata Centre for Development at the University of  Chicago,  has  made  such  inference.  However,  the  inference  drawn  is  only  a  projection based on certain modeling.

(c) to (e) 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 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change highlight that the challenges faced due to climate change are mainly from historical  emissions  of  greenhouse  gases  by  developed  countries.  Limiting  the  global warming can reduce the magnitude of climate change impacts

India's Climate action is embedded in to various programmes and schemes of Government of India.  The  Government  has taken various steps  to combat  climate change including, interalia, the following

- (i) India is  a  Party  to  United  Nations  Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol  and  the  Paris  Agreement.   Aim  of  the  Paris  Agreement  is  to  hold  the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and  pursuing  efforts  to  limit  the  temperature  increase  to  1.5°C  above  pre-industrial levels.  Under  the  Paris  Agreement,  India  has  submitted  its  Nationally  Determined Contribution (NDC) outlining eight (8) targets for 2021-2030, including (i) to reduce the emissions  intensity  of  its  GDP  by  33  to  35  percent  by  2030  from  2005  level,  (ii)  to achieve  about  40  percent  cumulative  electric  power  installed  capacity  from  non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030 with the help of transfer of technology and low cost international finance, (iii) to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2  equivalent  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.
- (ii) As  part  of  its  climate  action  agenda,  Government  of  India  is  implementing  National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) comprising eight Missions namely National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission on Sustainable  Habitat,  National  Water  Mission,  National  Mission  for  Sustaining  the Himalayan  Eco-system,  National  Mission  for  a  'Green  India',  National  Mission  for Sustainable  Agriculture  and  National  Mission  on  Strategic  knowledge  for  Climate Change.   These  missions  are  anchored  by  their  respective  nodal  Ministries  and  are  at various stages of their implementation.
- (iii) 33  States  and  Union  Territories  have  prepared  State  Action  Plans  on  Climate  Change (SAPCC) consistent with the objectives of NAPCC to address their State specific action. This Ministry is supporting adaptation actions of States and Union Territories through a scheme titled 'National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change'.
- (iv) As an adaptive measure, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in collaboration with local health departments have started heat action plan in many parts of the country to forewarn  about  the  heat  waves  and  also  advising  action  to  be  taken  during  such occasions.  Heat action plan became operational since 2013. The Heat Action Plan is a comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat events. The Plan  presents  immediate  as  well  as  longer-term  actions  to  increase  preparedness, information-sharing, and response coordination to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable populations. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and  IMD are working with 23 States that recorded high temperatures leading to heatwave conditions to develop heat action plans.
- (v) IMD has started Forecast Demonstration Project (FDP) on heat waves from April 2017 for the hot weather season under which a detailed daily report including realized data of heat waves, synoptic situation leading to the occurrence of heat waves, diagnosis on the basis of Numerical Model outputs and forecast and warnings for five days is prepared. This information is disseminated to all concerned including health departments through a bulletin.  From April 2018 onwards, IMD started issuing an additional bulletin on heat wave in the morning (8 a.m.) valid for 24 hours for supporting the planning of activities for the day and this bulletin is also disseminated to all concerned.
- (vi) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare is implementing National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture

(NICRA) Project with the objective to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate vulnerability of crops, livestock and fisheries.   ICAR under NICRA project is demonstrating 12 short duration, 15 drought tolerant, 14 flood tolerant, 1 heat tolerant and 3 salt tolerant rice varieties in farmer's fields across the country.

Independent studies rate India's efforts highly and compliant with the requirements under the Paris Agreement.

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