Lok Sabha Question No. 1542 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-08
Subject: Sustainable Development Goals
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1542

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2015

## Sustainable Development Goals

## 1542.  SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

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

- (a) whether the  Government has initiated plans to implement Sustainable Development  Goals  (SDGs)  specifically  Goal-13  and  Goal-15,  if  so,  the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) the steps, proposed to be taken by the Government to integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning as per proposed Goal13.2;
- (c) the efforts being made to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora  and  fauna  and  address  both  demand  and  supply  of  illegal  wildlife products; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  plans  to  set  up  a  monitoring  body  consisting  of Member  of  Parliament,  eminent  personalities,  retired  judges  or  any  other persons regarding progress made on Sustainable Development Goals and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) & (b): Government of India has initiated a number of steps to promote sustainable development including action relating to Goal-13 pertaining to taking urgent action to combat climate  change  and  its  impacts  and  Goal-15  pertaining  to  protection,  restoration  and promotion  of  sustainable  use  of  terrestrial  ecosystems,  sustainable  forest  management, combating desertification and halting & reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss.

Government has launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in June 2008 to deal with the climate change related issues.  NAPCC comprises eight Missions in  specific  areas  of  solar  energy,  enhanced  energy  efficiency,  sustainable  habitat,  water, sustaining Himalayan  Ecosystems, Green India, Sustainable agriculture and strategic knowledge for climate change.  Further, States/Union Territories have prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change consistent with objectives of NAPCC highlighting State's specific issues  relating  to  climate  change.    Other  initiatives,  as  per  India's  Intended  Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate  Change  (UNFCCC)  in  October  2015,  include  introducing  cleaner  technologies  in thermal  power  generation,  promoting  renewable  energy  generation,  energy  efficiency, developing climate resilient infrastructure, implementation of Green India Mission, programmes related to afforestation and activities aimed at reducing vulnerability to climate change.

(c): Government  has  taken  several  measures  to  control  poaching  like  technology  for improved  surveillance  of  vulnerable  forest  areas  by  electronic  and  IT  systems  (e-EYE system),  photo  ID  database  of  animals  like  tigers,  deployment  of  local  workforce  for protection to complement efforts of the field staff, eliciting peoples' participation, etc. Forest Protection staff are also provided fire arms by the State Governments for dealing with forest criminals including poachers.  Other steps taken by the Government include:

1. Prohibition of hunting and trading of wild animals under Wild Life Protection Act, 1972;
2. Setting up of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
3. Provision of financial  and technical assistance to the States/Union Territories under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant' for protection of wildlife and improvement of their habitat.

(d): The  Sustainable  Development  Goals  relate  to  Post  2015  Development  Agenda.  No decision  has  been  taken  for  setting  up  a  monitoring  body  consisting  of  Members  of Parliament,  eminent  personalities,  retired  judges  or  such  other  persons  regarding  progress made on Sustainable Development Goals.