Lok Sabha Question No. 1431 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-26
Subject: Conferences on Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA, LAKHAN LAL SAHU

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1431

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2016

## Conferences on Climate Change

## 1431.   SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI: SHRI LAKHAN LAL SAHU:

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

- (a) whether  India  has  taken  part  in  the  various  International  Forums  and  Conferences  on climate change;
- (b) if so, the details and outcome thereof during the last two years and the current year;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to check fuel emission and take action against heavy industries  like  sugar  mills  and  tanneries  which  are  not  adhering  to  emission  standards and if so, the details thereof and steps taken in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  carried  out  any  scientific  study  regarding  the  adverse impact of the climate change, especially increase in temperature in the world; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) and (b) India  has  been  actively  participating  in  various  International  meetings  on Climate change for protecting its own interest in the climate change negotiation fora  under  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate  Change (UNFCCC). In the span of last 2 years, India has participated in the Conference of the Parties (COP) - COP-20 held in Lima, Peru in December 2014 and COP21 held in Paris, France in November-December 2015, under UNFCCC.

At COP-21, a new Agreement with universal participation of all countries was adopted  for  enhancing  the  implementation  of  the  Convention  with  a  view  to contain  increase  in  global  average  temperature  to  well  below  2°C  above  preindustrial levels. The Paris Agreement recognizes imperatives of climate justice and sustainable lifestyles as manifested in patterns of  consumption  and production, with developed countries taking the lead.

- (c) Various  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  check  emissions  and control  pollution  from  heavy  industries  including  sugar  mills  and  tanneries. These include notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards covering

up 12 pollutants, formulation of environmental regulations/statutes, setting up of monitoring  network  for  assessment  of  ambient  air  quality,  introduction  of cleaner/  alternate  fuels  like  gaseous  fuel  (CNG,  LPG  etc.),  ethanol  blend  etc. and  promotion  of  cleaner  production  processes.  Revised  standards  have  been notified  for  Sugar  Industries  for  conservation  of  water  and  stream  effluent norms,  besides  directing  the  sugar  mills  to  use  the  entire  treated  effluent  for irrigation.

Steps  have  also  been  taken  to  control  pollution  from  Tanneries.  About  1500 tanneries are operational mostly in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Directions  were  issued  to  Uttar  Pradesh,  Punjab  and  West  Bengal  State Pollution  Control  Boards  (SPCBs)  to  ensure  compliance  of  Fixed  Dissolved Solid (FDS) parameter norms. Directions were issued for closure of 77 tanneries situated  on  Ganga  main  stem  for  non  compliance  of  directions  to  install continuous  (24x7)  effluent  quality/quantity  monitoring  systems,  and  to  13 tanneries situated on Ganga main stem for non-compliance of standards.

- (d) and (e) Global  studies  on  climate  change,  including  on  global  temperature  rise,  are regularly  conducted  by  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC), which has participation of Indian scientists and experts. Besides, the Department of Science & Technology under the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for  Climate  Change  (NMSKCC)  has  taken  a  major  initiative  of  establishing Knowledge networks in the key areas of Climate Change Science, Adaptation and  Mitigation.  Two  Network  Programmes  one  each  in  the  areas  of  Climate Change & Human Health and Climate modeling have been initiated. 17 reports containing  outcomes  of  studies  on  climate  change  impact  on  sectors  like agriculture,  sea  level  rise,  ocean  acidification,  livelihood,  forest  ecosystem, storm surges, etc. conducted by leading Research and Development institutions in the country have been brought out. Two thematic reports one each on Climate Change & Agriculture  and  Climate  Change  &  Human  Health  have  also  been brought out.

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