Lok Sabha Question No. 797 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-23
Subject: Adverse Effects of Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Thalikkottai Rajuthevar Baalu

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 797

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2021

## Adverse Effects of Climate Change

## 797. SHRI T. R. BAALU:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that in South Asia, India has a major role to play in the field of climate change, given the enormity of its industrialisation levels;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  climate  change  threatens  to  disrupt natural  resource  systems,  thereby adversely impacting populations dependent on these ecosystems, as well as increasing temperature is likely to increase vector-borne diseases such as malaria and diarrheal infections-  the  prominent  causes  of  child  mortality  which  in  turn  leads  to  declining worker productivity, rising cardiovascular diseases, and deaths; and
- (d) if so, the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b) Climate change is a global phenomenon and requires the cooperation of all nations, including in South Asia, based on the principles of 'equity' and 'common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities'. India is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement. Despite having  no  binding  obligation  under  the  UNFCCC,  India  announced  its  voluntary  goal  to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 20-25% by 2020 in comparison to 2005 level. India has achieved 24% emissions intensity reduction during the period 2005 to 2016. Under the  Paris  Agreement,  India  submitted  its  Nationally  Determined  Contribution  (NDC)  to UNFCCC  outlining  eight  targets  for  the  period  2021-2030,  including  (i)  to  reduce  GHG emissions intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (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 including from Green Climate Fund (GCF), (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.

(c) and (d) As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Global  Warming  of  1.5°C,  climate  change  is  impacting  ecosystems,  human  health  and agriculture.  As  per  the  Report,  risks  for  some  vector-borne  diseases,  such  as  malaria  and dengue fever are projected to increase with warming from 1.5°C to 2°C, including potential shifts in their geographic range. Further, safe work activity and worker productivity during the hottest months of the year would be increasingly affected with climate change. India has become a signatory to the 'Male Declaration' which requires health sector strengthening to make  it  climate  resilient.  The  Government  has  introduced  the  National  Programme  on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) in November 2018. The programme aims to reduce morbidity, mortality, injuries and health vulnerability due to climate variability and extreme weather.

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