Lok Sabha Question No. 5120 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-04-03
Subject: Impact of Climate Change on Odisha
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sarmistha Sethi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5120

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.04.2023

## Impact of Climate Change on Odisha

## 5120. SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  conducted/  proposes  to  conduct  any  study  to  assess  the impact of climate change on the natural ecosystems and biodiversity of Odisha;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government intends to build a database to document the changes in natural ecosystems  and  biodiversity  due  to  climate  change  in  the  said  regions  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (d) the  details  of  other  steps  taken  by  Government  to  safeguard  the  biodiversity  and  help local communities adapt to climate change along with the funds provided in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)  and  (b)  The  Government  of  India  through  its  various  Ministries/Departments  assesses theimpact of climate change in keeping with the new data and increased scientific knowledge onthe subject. Also, at the State level various research organizations, universities, academiaundertake studies on climate change as per their mandate.

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  has  conducted  a  study  on  'Risk  and vulnerability  assessment  of  Indian  agriculture  to  climate  change'  in  2019  under  the  project 'National  Innovations  in  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture'  which  provides  information  on  Indian States including the State of Odisha. The study report inter-alia, includes information on relative position of 30 rural districts of Odisha in relation to climate change risk and various determinants viz.,  exposure,  vulnerability  and  hazard.  The  analysis  indicated  that  out  of  30  districts,  14  are categorized as high-risk, 13 as medium-risk and 3 as low risk prone.

Similar studies are increasingly being carried out by various Departments/Ministries on the impact of climate change in the sectors for which they are responsible.

(c) The  periodic  data  collection,  monitoring,  analysis  and  outputs  of  various  agencies, including but not limited to, inter-alia, Botanical Survey of India, Geological Survey of India and Forest  Survey  of  India  provide  continuously  updated  information  on  the  State  of  India's landscapes and ecosystems. These outputs are used by government scientific institutions and the wider scientific and academic community for specific analysis, including the impact of climate change and also other highly significant social and economic stressors, as per requirements.

(d) The  Government  of  India  is  addressing  concerns  relating  to  biodiversity  and  natural ecosystems  through  both  promotional and  legal measures. Government  has  enacted  the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 which is aimed at conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of these resources.

Under National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change, a project 'Conserve water through the management of run-off in the river basin to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience for traditional  livelihood'  has  been  sanctioned  at  a  cost  of  Rs.  20  crores  with  focus  on  Nuapada district  of  Odisha.Further,  Biodiversity  Management  Committees  have  been  constituted  and Peoples'  Biodiversity  Registers  have  been  put  in  place  for  documentation  of  local  flora  and fauna.

Further,  India's  climate  actions  are  guided  by  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.  The  implementation  of  these  national  missions  is  being  anchored  by concerned Ministries and Departments with each mission having its own sector specific schemes and programmes. Thirty-four States /Union Territories (UTs), including Odisha, have prepared their State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with NAPCC taking into account the State specific issues relating to climate change.

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