Lok Sabha Question No. 873 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Displacement of People due to climate change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Khagen Murmu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 873

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## Displacement of People due to climate change

## 873. SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the direct linkage between rise in human displacement and climate change causing people to be forcibly displaced as 'climate refugees';
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether 'climate refugees' are unable to access public healthcare facilities as such a term is still legally undefined under international law and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps taken/to be taken by the Government to engage the hybrid law approach as evolved  from  'policy-oriented  jurisprudence'  for  protection  of  'climate  refugees'  in view of large scale displacement induced by climate change?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) and (b) According to IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 o C (2018), the social,  economic  and  environmental  factors  underlying  migration  are  complex  and  varied; therefore,  attributing  it  to  the  effect  of  observed  climate  change  or  assessing  its  possible magnitude with any degree of confidence is challenging.

(c)  and  (d)  Migration  is  linked  to  both  push  and  pull  factors  relating  to  livelihoods  living conditions and opportunities.  Relief, recovery and rehabilitation are governed inter alia by the relevant provisions of the National Disaster Management Act and the guidelines, directives and orders of the National Disaster Management  Authority and the State Disaster Management  Authorities.  The  provision  of  public  health  facilities  to  the  disaster-hit  is governed  by  these  provisions  and  other  orders  and  the  relevant  activities  of  the  health departments at  the  States  and  Centre.  Disaster  affected  people  are  provided  preventive  and active  health  care  in  public  health  institutions  by  the  relevant  health  departments.  The Constitutional, legislative, legal and administrative provisions relevant to disaster management  and  disaster  risk  reduction  suffice  for  the  management  of  the  health  of populations affected by disasters in the country.

The  government  of  India  stands  committed  towards  combating  climate  change  through  its several programs and schemes. This includes inter-alia implementation of the 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. The NAPCC provides an overarching framework for all climate actions. Thirty three States /Union Territories have prepared their State  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change  (SAPCC)  in  lines  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 including adaptation.

***