Lok Sabha Question No. 622 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-24
Subject: Impact of Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Mahabali Singh, Ravindra Kushawaha, Subrata Pathak, Imtiaz Jaleel Syed, Gajendra Singh Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 622

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2023

## Impact of Climate Change

622. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

SHRI MAHABALI SINGH:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK:

SHRI SYED IMTIAZ JALEEL:

SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH PATEL:

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

- (a) whether the Government is using its G20 presidency to push for greater cooperation to combat complex climate issues, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the  Government is  working  on  adopting  a  comprehensive  Green  Industrial Policy, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details  of  programmes  being  implemented to maintain environment balance and environment protection in urban areas, especially in Madhya Pradesh;
- (d) whether it is a fact that climate change has contributed significantly to forest loss in the country, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to reverse the effects of climate change and conservation of forest and wildlife in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The  G20  Countries  represent  a  spectrum  of  developed  and  emerging  economies  at different  stages  of  growth  and  development.  India's  G20  Presidency  brings  an integrated, comprehensive and consensus driven approach to address climate change and pursue sustainable growth. The Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) under India's G20 Presidency focuses on environment and climate change issues, with three priority areas, viz., arresting land degradation, accelerating ecosystem restoration and enriching biodiversity; promoting a sustainable and climate resilient blue economy and encouraging resource efficiency and circular economy. As climate change is a cross sectoral subject, it is addressed in some other Working Groups including  the  Energy  Transition  Working  Group  (ETWG)  and  Sustainable  Finance Working Group (SFWG).
- (b) to  (e) India has submitted its long term low carbon development strategy (LT-LEDS) towards  net zero by 2070, to the UNFCCC in November 2022. The LT-LEDS lays out

the ongoing policies and programmes as well as the transitions envisaged towards lowcarbon development pathways in seven key sectors including promoting economy-wide decoupling of growth from emissions and development of an efficient, innovative low emission industrial system.

India's actions on climate change 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.  These  national  missions  are  anchored  by specific line Ministries with each mission having its action plan for addressing climate change  while  ensuring  development.  The  National  Mission  on  Sustainable  Habitat (NMSH)  under  the  NAPCC  contains  enabling  climate  actions  pertaining  to  urban governance,  capacity  building,  technology  etc.  The  Mission  has  mitigation  and adaptation strategies to address the issue of climate change in urban areas.

Further, 33 States/ UTs including Madhya Pradesh, have developed their State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) that comprise sectoral and cross sectoral  actions for  climate  change  mitigation  and  adaptation.  Various  initiatives  are  being  taken  in cities in  Madhya Pradesh for sustainable waste management, transport, housing etc, including under the Smart Cities Mission which is a part of NMSH.

Government of India is implementing various programmes to improve and increase forest  and  tree  cover  in  the  country  through  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes  such  as National  Afforestation  Programme  (NAP)  and  National  Mission  for  a  Green  India (GIM).  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  also  supports  school nursery and urban forestry programmes through people's participation. In addition to this,  State  Governments  and  UT  administrations  have  their  own  afforestation  and reforestation programmes. As per the latest India State of Forest Report 2021, the total forest cover of the country has increased by 12,294 square kilometres in the last seven years (ISFR 2015 to ISFR 2021).

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