Lok Sabha Question No. 321 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Global Warming
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.321

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.12.2015

## Global Warming

## *321. SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  considering  new  initiatives  for  mitigating  global  warming including reduction of carbon emissions through use of energy sources other than coal and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the major oil companies are touting the substitution of coal by natural gas for tackling global warming and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to incentivise the industry with low carbon emissions and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  other  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  at  National  and  International  levels  to promote "Green Initiatives" along with the success achieved thereunder?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (d)  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (A)  TO  (D)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 321 BY SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN REGARDING 'GLOBAL WARMING'.

(a) The  submitted  Intended  Nationally  Determined  Contributions  (INDCs)  submitted  by  India envisages that about 40 percent of cumulative electric power installed capacity shall come from non-fossil  fuel  based  energy  sources  by  2030.  It  has  proposed  massive  increase  in  renewable energy from 35 GW (upto March 2015) to 175 GW by 2022 through National Solar Mission and other activities in Wind, Biomass, and Small Hydro. India is aiming to generate 100 GW solar power,  60  GW  power  from  wind,  10  GW  bio-mass  power  and  5  GW  small  hydro-power  by 2022.

(b) Natural Gas generates 40% less CO2 as compared to coal, and about 30% less than heavy oil. The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has undertaken initiatives for Mitigation of Carbon Emissions & Climate Change in Oil & Gas Sector. However, its use depends on availability and cost.

(c) Government has taken a number of initiatives in the past for the development of renewable energy  in  the  country  which  inter-alia  include  generation  based  incentives/subsidies,  fiscal incentives such as accelerated depreciation, concessional customs duty, excise duty exemptions, income tax holiday for 10 years and preferential tariff for renewable energy power projects. In addition,  Reserve  Bank  of  India  has  issued  revised  guidelines  for  all  scheduled  commercial banks making significant inroads for renewable energy in the priority sector lending.

The  Bureau  of  Energy  Efficiency  (BEE)  has  launched  its  'Perform,  Achieve  and  Trade'  (PAT) scheme.  PAT  is  a  market  based  mechanism  in  which  sectors  are  assigned  efficiency  targets. Industries  which  over-achieve will get incentives in the form of energy saving certificates. These certificates  are  tradeable  and  can  be  bought  by  other  industries  which  are  unable  to  achieve  their targets. Similarly, Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) trading mechanism has been launched by  Central  Electricity  Regulatory  Commission  (CERC)  and  Ministry  of  Power  to  promote generation of Renewable Energy in India.

Further,  the  Government  of  India  has  also  setup  the  National  Clean  Energy  Fund  (NCEF)  by levying a cess of 200 per tonne of coal produced domestically or imported, for the purpose of financing  and  promoting  clean  energy  activities  in  the  country.  Under  NCEF,  Viability  Gap Funding  (VGF)  up  to    40%  of  the  project  cost  is  available  to  any  project/scheme  relating  to innovative methods to adapt to Clean Energy Technology.

(d) Government of India has formulated  the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) on June 30, 2008 comprising  eight National Missions; (i) Solar Energy (ii) Enhanced Energy Efficiency  (iii)  Sustainable  Habitat  (iv)  Water  (v)  Sustaining  the  Himalayan  Eco-system  (vi) Green India (vii) Sustainable Agriculture and (viii) Strategic knowledge, to address adaptation and mitigation related to climate change.

In line with the objectives of NAPCC, the State Governments have prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) consistent with the national objectives and state priorities. These plans  include  the  current  and  future  State's  climate  change  scenarios  and  likely  impacts  of climate  change  and  focus  on  adaptation  and  mitigation  in  sectors  such  as  water,  agriculture, tourism, forestry, transport, habitat, energy, etc.

The National  Adaptation  Fund  on  Climate  Change  has  been  established  with  the  objective  of addressing the existing funding gap for undertaking adaptation activities at State level. 350 crores has been allocated for remaining two years of 12th Five Year Plan. The funding is being provided for adaptation projects related to agriculture, water, forestry, coastal, disaster, health, tourism, marine system and capacity building.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was established at the Sixteenth Conference of Parties held in Cancun,  Mexico,  in  December  2010  to  support  projects,  programmes,  policies  and  other activities in developing countries to combat climate change. GCF is now operational.

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