Lok Sabha Question No. 565 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Methane Emissions
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Jagannath Sarkar, Brijendra Singh, Sunita Duggal, Ritesh Pandey

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 565 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## Methane Emissions

## 565. SHRI JAGANNATH SARKAR:

SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH:

SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL:

SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

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

- (a) Whether the Government has taken any initiative to monitor and control methane emissions in key sectors such as agriculture, energy and waste management;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has set any target or roadmap to mitigate the increasing methane emissions by the end of 2030;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether any scientific methods have been adopted to reduce methane emissions ensuring minimal impact on the agricultural economy; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &(b)  India  is  a  Party  to  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate  Change (UNFCCC), and its Kyoto Protocol (KP), and the Paris Agreement (PA). As a Party to the  UNFCCC,  India  periodically  submits  its  National  Communications  (NCs)  and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) to the UNFCCC which includes national Greenhouse Gas  (GHG) inventorycontaining  information  on  methane  emissions.  As  per  India's third Biennial Update Report, India's methane emissions in 2016 (excluding LULUCF) were 409 million tone CO2e of which, 73.96% was from Agriculture sector, 14.46% from  Waste  sector,  10.62%  from  Energy  sector  and  0.96%  was  from  Industrial Processes and Product Use sector.
- (c) to (f) Under the Paris Agreement, India has submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which does not bind it to any sector specific mitigation obligation or action. The  goal  is  to  reduce  overall  emission  intensity  of  its  GDP  and  improve  energy efficiency  of  its  economy  over time and  at  the same time  protecting  the  vulnerable sectors of economy and segments of our society. However, India remains steadfast in its commitment in framing and implementing its actions to combat climate change. The ongoing measures to reduce methane emissions are as follows:
- i. The National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), implemented by Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare,  involves  climate  resilient practices  including  methane  reduction  practices  in  rice  cultivation.  These practices contribute to substantial reduction of methane emissions.
- ii. The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  under  National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project has developed several technologies with mitigation potential for methane from rice viz. (a) System for Rice Intensification - The technique has potential to enhance  rice  yield  from  36-49%  with  about  22-35%  less  water  than conventional transplanted rice; (b) Direct Seeded Rice - The system reduces methane emissions as it  does  not  involve raising  nurseries,  puddling  and transplanting. Unlike transplanted paddy cultivation, standing water is not maintained  in  this  system;  and  (c)  Crop  Diversification  Programme  Methane emissions is avoided due to diversion of paddy to alternate crops like pulses, oilseeds, maize, cotton and agro forestry.
- iii. Capacity  building  programmes  are  conducted  through  Krishi  Vigyan Kendras  across  the  country  for  creating  awareness  on  climate  resilient practices.
- iv. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) is implementing National Livestock Mission, which inter alia, includes Breed Improvement  and  Balanced  Rationing.  Feeding  livestock  with  superior quality  balanced  ration  is  helping  to  reduce  methane  emissions  from  the livestock.
- v. Government  of  India  promotes  green  fodder  production,  silage  making, chaff cutting, and total mixed ration under National Livestock Mission with a view to reduce methane emissions from livestock.
- vi. Through  initiatives like  'The  Gobar  (Galvanizing  Organic  Bio-Agro Resources) -Dhan' scheme and New National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme,  cattle  waste  utilisation  is  being  incentivised,  in  addition  to production of clean energy invillages. The Gobardhan scheme, inter alia, supports  biodegradable  waste  recovery  and  conversion  of  waste  into resources and reduction of methane emissions.