Lok Sabha Question No. 2209 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-09
Subject: National Climate Action Plan
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2209

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2024

## National Climate Action Plan

## 2209.   SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

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

- (a) the details of specific measures taken by the Government to meet international climate change targets, particularly with regard to deforestation and forest conservation;
- (b) the plan proposed by the Government to integrate forest preservation into its national climate action plan; and
- (c) whether the Government is considering to update or strengthen the existing forest protection laws to better combat climate change and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  to  (c)  India  has  updated  its  Nationally  Determined  Contribution  (NDC)  and  submitted  its Long  term  low  carbon  development  strategy  (LT-LEDS);  both  were  submitted  in  accordance with  provisions  of  Paris  Agreement.  One  of  the  targets  under  India's  NDC  is  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 Government is implementing National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which is the overarching framework for climate actions. The NAPCC comprises of national missions in specific  areas  of  solar  energy,  enhanced  energy  efficiency,  water,  agriculture,  Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat,  green  India,  human  health  and  strategic  knowledge  on  climate change.

National Mission for a Green India (GIM) aims to increase forest/tree cover, to improve/enhance eco-system services and to increase forest based livelihood income of households.

The Ministry is implementing the Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), which aims at developing Nagar Van and Nagar Vatika with the objective to enhance the tree outside forests and green cover in cities leading to better environment, enhancement of biodiversity and ecological benefits to the urban  and  peri-urban  areas  apart  from  improving  quality  of  life  of  city  dwellers.  The  School Nursery Yojana aims at involving school students in raising plant nurseries to bring them closer to natural environment, help them understand the natural processes of germination and feel the joy of watching saplings grow.

Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  of  India  launched  the  campaign  'Ek  Ped  Maa  Ke  Naam'  #Plant4 Mother,  on  the  World  Environment  Day  on  5 th June  2024  to  promote  pro-planet  activity  by citizens. Till date, more than 100 crore saplings have been planted.

The 'Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline  Habitats & Tangible  Incomes' (MISHTI)  scheme is a government-led  initiative  aimed  at  increasing  the  mangrove  cover  along  the  coastline  and  on saltpan lands. The objective of the scheme is to conserve and restore the mangrove ecosystem, which  is  critical  to  mitigating  the  effects  of  climate  change,  preventing  coastal  erosion,  and sustaining local livelihoods.

A Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has been constituted to promote afforestation and regeneration activities for compensating for forest land diverted to non-forest uses.

India is on track to deliver upon its climate commitments.  An additional carbon sink of 1.97 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent has been created during 2005 to 2019.

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