Lok Sabha Question No. 1132 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Policy on Environmental Imbalance
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Giridhari Yadav

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1132

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2024

## Policy on Environmental Imbalance

## 1132.   SHRI GIRIDHARI YADAV:

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

- (a) whether it  is  a  fact  that  due  to  environmental  pollution  and  climatic  changes  in  the country, there is imbalance in the average weather conditions of different parts of the country which lead to heavy rainfall at some places and severe drought at other places;
- (b) if so, whether the Government maintains any data in this regard and if so, whether the Government proposes to formulate any policy to balance the environmental imbalance; and
- (c) if so, the time by which the above policy is likely to be formulated and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, Human-caused climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region  across  the  globe.  Human-induced  climate  change,  including  more  frequent  and  intense extreme events, has caused widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and people, beyond natural climate variability. Evidence of observed changes in extremes such as heatwaves, heavy precipitation, droughts, and tropical cyclones, and, in particular, their attribution to human influence, has further strengthened over time. With every increment of global warming, regional changes in mean climate and extremes become more widespread and pronounced.

According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, a number of studies confirm strong correlation between changing local weather patterns and pollution in urban and rural areas of the country. Complex interactions between the earth system components amidst the warming environment and regional anthropogenic influences have led to a rise in frequency of localized heavy rainfall events, drought  and flood occurrences, increase in the intensity of tropical  cyclones etc. Studies have reported significant rising trends in the frequency and the magnitude of extreme rainfall across

India. Changing monsoon pattern and occurrences of extremes have affected various parts of the country. Regions which are more prone to such events in the changing climate include Central India,  Northern  Indian  regions  and  Western  Himalayas  (extreme  precipitation),  and  North, Northwest India and neighbouring Central India (moderate droughts and expansion in semi-arid regions) and coastal states (cyclones and heatwaves).

Every year, India Meteorological Department (IMD) prepares "Annual Climate Summary for Indian region" which contains information regarding various extreme weather events observed within the country. The reports are available in Climate Research & Services (CRS) Division, IMD, Pune website (https://www.imdpune.gov.in/Clim\_Pred\_LRF\_New/Reports.html). In addition, IMD also brings out publication on the 'Disastrous weather events' every year. Further, it issues various outlook/forecast/warning for Public as well as Disaster Management Authorities for the preparedness of extreme weather events for adaptation and mitigation of various climate related risks.

The Government of India stands committed to combating climate change and environmental pollution. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through its several  programmes  and  schemes  including  the  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change (NAPCC) provides an overarching framework for all climate actions. Further, the Ministry has issued  sectoral  policy  statements  on  areas  of  Environment  Impact  Assessment,  Hazardous Substance Management, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Coastal Regulatory Zone etc. in response to emerging challenges, from time to time. The Government has framed Rules, Regulations and issued  Directions  while  addressing  the  sustainable  development  concerns  to  create  harmony between economic, social and environmental needs of the country. Based on the dynamics of the environment sector and global and domestic regulatory and jurisprudence issues, the policies made by the Government for the environment sector are judiciously formulated, periodically reviewed, suitably revised and updated, from time to time following a process of wide consultations and taking into account global best practices and duly notified, as and when the need arises.

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