Lok Sabha Question No. 1738 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-13
Subject: Climate Change Effects
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ashok Mahadeorao Nete, Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1738

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2023

## Climate Change Effects

## 1738.  SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE: SHRI JASWANT SINGH BHABHOR:

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

- (a) whether many researches show that due to the indiscriminate destruction of forests, two billion  tonnes  of  additional  carbon  dioxide  is  being  dissolved  in  the  atmosphere  every year  and  due  to  this  the  ozone  layer  is  being  severely  damaged  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) the action plan prepared by the Government in view of the danger hanging over various cities in the country due to melting of glaciers caused by global warming and continuous rise in sea level and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the adverse effects of climate change on various sectors including agriculture in the rural areas of the country during the last three years and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has prepared any action-plan to address the adverse effects of climate change, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) As per  India's  State  of  Forest  Report  (ISFR)  2021,  the total  forest  and  green  cover  has increased in the last two years and it covers 24.62% of the geographical area of the country. The  total  carbon  stock  has  also  increased.  Carbon  dioxide  is  not  recognized  as  an  Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) under the Montreal Protocol, which is the global agreement to protect the ozone layer.

(b) The institutional and regulatory framework in the context of planning, preparedness, relief, recovery and rehabilitation due to disasters including weather related disasters have been put in  place  under  the  relevant  provisions  of  Disaster  Management  Act,  2005.    The  National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued several disaster specific guidelines for managing  extreme  weather-related  disasters  such  as  cyclones,  floods  and  heat  waves. National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) has been formulated to assist all stakeholders including State Governments in disaster risk management of various hazards, which includes hazards related to climate change. Furthermore, advance and early warning systems are being implemented  by  Indian  Meteorological  Department  to  facilitate  timely  evacuation  in  the event of floods/cyclones and prevent the loss of lives. Government of India has implemented Integrated  Coastal  Zone  Management  project  (ICZMP)  that  has  contributed,  inter-alia, mapping of hazard line, Eco-Sensitive Area, Sediment cell for the entire coastline of India. The  hazard  line  is  indicative  of  the  shoreline  changes,  including  the  sea  level  rise  due  to climate change and is a projection of impact due to sea level rise, and shoreline changes over a long period of time viz. over 100 years. This line is required to be used by the Coastal State agencies concerned as a tool for Disaster Management for the coastal environment, including planning  of  adaptation  and  mitigation  measures.  Further,  Department  of  Science  and Technology  is  implementing  two  national  missions-  National  Mission  for  Sustaining  the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) and National Mission on Strategic knowledge for Climate Change  (NMSKCC),  and  financial  support  for  climate  research  is  provided  under  these Missions to various academic and research institutions across the country.

(c) The impacts of climate change on agriculture and other sectors are being assessed by the relevant Ministries from time to time. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has  initiated  a  network  project,  National  Innovations  in  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture (NICRA) in 2011 to study and address the impacts of climate change on Indian agriculture. As  per  the  studies  under  NICRA,  rainfed  rice  yields  in  India  are  projected  to  reduce marginally (<2.5%) in 2050 and 2080 and irrigated rice yields by 7% in 2050 and 10% in 2080 scenarios. Wheat yield is projected to reduce by 6-25% in 2100 and maize yield by 1823%. Climate change is likely to benefit chickpeas with an increase in productivity (23-54%). Further,  a  number  of  Research  &Development  projects  have  been  supported  under  the National  Missions  to  assess  the  impact  of  climate  change  on  areas  such  as  coastal vulnerability, health, agriculture and water.

(d) India  is  a  Party  to  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate  Change,  its Kyoto  Protocol  and  Paris  Agreement.  Under  the  Paris  Agreement  in  2015,  India  had submitted  its  Nationally  Determined  Contribution  (NDC)  balancing  the  concerns  and priorities  of  climate  change,  sustainable  development  including  poverty  eradication,  and economic  growth  of  the  country.    In  August  2022,  India  updated  its  NDC  demonstrating higher ambition in its climate action. The updated targets in India's NDC include reducing emissions  intensity  of  its  GDP  by  45%  by  2030  from  2005  levels;  achieving  about  50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030; and create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030 and propagating a healthy and sustainable way of living  based  on  traditions  and  values  of  conservation  and  moderation,  including  through  a mass movement for 'LIFE'- 'Lifestyle for Environment.

The Government is implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which is  the  overarching  policy  framework  and  comprises  of  national  missions  in  specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, water, agriculture, Himalayan eco-system, sustainable  habitat,  green  India,  human  health  and  strategic  knowledge  on  climate  change. Further,  34  States/Union  Territories  have  prepared  State  Action  Plans  on  Climate  Change (SAPCCs)  consistent  with  the  objectives  of  NAPCC.  Government  has  launched  many schemes and programs to scale up India's action on both adaptation and mitigation. As per India's  LT-LEDS  (Long  Term  Low-Carbon  Development  Strategy)  submitted  to  the UNFCCC in November, 2022, India's vision of low carbon development is based on the need to  ensure  India's  high  energy  needs  for  economic  development  and  achieving  Sustainable Development Goals.

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