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REFERENCE NOTE .
No. 12/RN/Ref./February/2015

For the use of Members of Parliament Not for Publication

CLIMATE CHANGE AND INDIA

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 CLIMATE CHANGE AND INDIA

INTRODUCTION

Climate Change is one of the most formidable development challenges faced by

humanity today. Its consequences are global and intergenerational. It is primarily caused by
the building up of Green House Gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. Global Warming is a
specific example of the broader term „Climate Change‟ and refers to the observed increase in
the average temperature of the air near earth‟s surface and oceans in recent decades.
Scientific studies have shown that the global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide,
methane and nitrous oxide which are the most important Green House Gases, have
increased markedly as a result of human activities since 1750 and now far exceed pre-
industrial values

The impact of Climate Change tends to be more pronounced for the disadvantaged,
making them even more vulnerable to climate risks. Developing countries are especially
vulnerable, many with limited capacity to adapt to rising sea levels or recover from associated
losses which poses a key threat to Sustainable Development1.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a specialised body jointly

established by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the World
Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in 1988, to provide the world with a clear scientific view
on the current state of knowledge in Climate Change and its potential environmental and
socio–economic impacts2. As per the Fifth Assessment Report of IPCC, released in
November 2014 -

Climate Change will amplify existing risks and create new risks for natural and human
systems. Risks are unevenly distributed and are generally greater for disadvantaged
people and communities in countries at all levels of development.

1
India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India‟s Progress in Combating Climate Change, December
2014, P. Sec.I; ii
2
www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization.shtml
 2

The atmosphere and oceans have warmed, the amount of snow and ice has
diminished, sea level has risen and the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased
to a level unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years.

Addressing Climate Change will not be possible if individual agents advance their own
interests independently, it can be achieved through cooperative response, including
international cooperation”3.

India was engaged with the IPCC in analyzing and critically examining the work done
under three Working Groups of the IPCC in a phased manner. According to „Global
Climate Risk Index 2014‟ India is ranking 18th4.

THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

The United Nations‟ Framework Convention on Climate Change

The United Nations‟ Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered
into force on 21 March 1994. The 196 countries that have ratified the Convention are called
Parties to the Convention. The UNFCCC is a “Rio Convention”, adopted at the “Rio Earth
Summit” in 1992. (See Annexure-I for Time Line detailing the International Response)

The ultimate objective of the Convention is to stabilize Green House Gas

concentrations "at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human
induced) interference with the climate system." It states that "such a level should be
achieved within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to
Climate Change, to ensure that food production is not threatened, and to enable
economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner."

The Convention puts the onus on developed countries to lead the way. The idea is
that, as they are the source of most past and current Green House Gas emissions,
industrialized countries are expected to do the most to cut emissions on home ground.
They are called Annex I countries and belong to the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD). They include 12 countries with "economies in

3
IPCC Press Release dated 2.11.2014
4
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 649 dated 26.11.2014
 3

transition" from Central and Eastern Europe. Industrialized nations agreed under the
Convention to support Climate Change activities in developing countries by providing
financial support for action on Climate Change.

The Convention takes this into consideration by accepting that the share of Green
House Gas emissions produced by developing nations will grow in the coming years.
Nonetheless, in the interests of fulfilling its ultimate goal, it seeks to help such
countries limit emissions in ways that will not hinder their economic progress.5

The Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into
force on 16 February 2005, is an international agreement linked to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting
internationally binding emission reduction targets. During its first commitment period
(2008-2012), 37 industrialized countries and the European Community committed to reduce
GHG emissions to an average of five percent against 1990 levels. During the second
commitment period (2013-2020), Parties committed to reduce GHG emissions by at least 18
percent below 1990 levels. Under the Protocol:

Countries must meet their targets primarily through national measures. The Protocol
also offers them an additional means to meet their targets by way of three market-
based mechanisms: (i) International Emissions Trading (IET); (ii) Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM); and (iii) Joint implementation (JI).

The mechanisms help to stimulate green investment and help Parties meet their
emission targets in a cost-effective way6.

The Bali Road Map

The Bali Road Map was adopted at the 13th Conference of the Parties and the 3rd
Meeting of the Parties in December 2007 in Bali. It includes:

5
http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention
6
http://unfccc.in/kyoto_protocol/
 4

The Bali Action Plan which is a comprehensive process to enable the full, effective and
sustained implementation of the Convention through long-term cooperative action, up
to and beyond 2012, in order to reach an agreed outcome and adopt a decision.

The Bali Action Plan is divided into five main categories: shared vision, mitigation,
adaptation, technology and financing7.

The Copenhagen Accord

The 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 5th session
of the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol which took place in Copenhagen,
Denmark in December 2009, produced the Copenhagen Accord. Key features:

The long-term goal of limiting the maximum global average temperature increase to no
more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, subject to a review in 2015.

A reference to consider limiting the temperature increase to below 1.5 degrees - a key
demand made by vulnerable developing countries.

Developed countries promised to provide US$30 billion for the period 2010-2012, and
to mobilize long-term finance of a further US$100 billion a year by 2020 from a variety
of sources.8

The Cancun Agreements

The Cancun Agreements reached on 11 December 2010 in Cancun, Mexico, at the
16th Conference of the Parties in November – December 2010. The main objectives include:

Mitigation; Transparency of actions; Technology; Adaptation; Forests; Capacity

building; and Finance.

Setting up of the Green Climate Fund to disburse $100 billion per year by 2020 to
developing countries to assist them in mitigating Climate Change and adapting to its
impacts9.

7
http://unfccc.int/key-steps/bali_road_map
8
http://unfccc.int/meetings/copenhagen_dec_2009/meeting
9
http://unfccc.int/key_steps/cancun_agreements
 5

The Durban Outcomes

The 17th Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa, in November 2011,
delivered a breakthrough on the international community's response to Climate Change. Key
features:

Second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

The launch of a new platform of negotiations under the Convention to deliver a new
and universal Green House Gas reduction protocol, legal instrument or other outcome
with legal force by 2015 for the period beyond 2020.

Conclusion in 2012 of existing broad-based stream of negotiations. and

To scope out and then conduct a fresh Global Review of the emerging climate
challenge based on the best available science and data.10

The Doha Climate Gateway

At the 18th Conference of the Parties in Doha, Qatar in December 2012, the
Governments consolidated the gains of the last three years of international Climate Change
negotiations and opened a gateway to necessary greater ambition and action on all levels.
Among the many decisions taken, Governments:

Strengthened their resolve and set out a timetable to adopt a Universal Climate
Agreement by 2015, which will come into effect in 2020.

Launched a new commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol.

Made further progress towards establishing the financial and technology support and
new institutions to enable clean energy investments and sustainable growth in
developing countries11.

Warsaw Outcomes
The 19th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC and 9th Meeting of Parties to

10
http://unfccc.int/key-steps/durban_outcomes
11
http://unfccc.int/key-steps/doha_climate_gateway/
 6

Kyoto Protocol took place in Warsaw, Poland from 11 to 23 November 2013. The key
features:

It was decided to either initiate or intensify domestic preparations for their Intended
Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) towards the 2015 Agreement
(scheduled to be agreed in Paris in the late 2015 at the 21 Session of COP) that will
come into force from 2020.

It was decided that nationally determined contributions would be put forward in a clear
and transparent manner by the first quarter of 2015.

The “Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage” was created with a
provision for setting up of an International Mechanism to provide technical support,
finance and capacity building to help the poorer and vulnerable countries.

The Warsaw Framework for Reduction in Emission from Deforestation and

Degradation (REDD+) is backed by pledges of 280 million dollars financing from the
US, Norway and the UK12.

Lima Call for Climate Action

The 20th Session of the Conference of the Parties and the 10th Meeting of Parties to
the Kyoto Protocol took place from 1 to 14 December 2014 in Lima, Peru. The key features:

The Lima Call for Climate Action urged developed country Parties to provide and
mobilize enhanced financial support to developing country Parties for ambitious
mitigation and adaptation actions, especially to Parties that are particularly vulnerable
to the adverse effects of Climate Change; and recognized complementary support by
other Parties.

Nations concluded by elaborating the elements of the new agreement, while also
agreeing the ground rules on how all the countries can submit contributions to the new
agreement during the first quarter of 2015.

12
http://unfccc.int/key-steps/warsaw_outcomes/items/
 7

Progress was made in Lima on elevating adaption onto the same level as the curbing
and cutting of curbing Greenhouse Gas emissions13.

COP 21- At the COP 21 scheduled to be held in Paris in December 2015, 196 countries will
meet to sign a new Climate Change Agreement. “I count on the leadership of India in
our ongoing efforts to address the Climate Change issues” – Ban Ki-Moon, UN
Secretary General14.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND INDIA‟S ACTIONS

The key environmental challenges in India have been sharper in the past two decades.
Climate Change is impacting the natural ecosystems and is expected to have substantial
adverse effects in India, mainly on agriculture, water storage in the Himalayan glaciers which
are the source of major rivers and groundwater recharge, sea-level rise, and threats to a long
coastline and habitations. Climate Change will also cause increased frequency of extreme
events such as floods, and droughts. These in turn will impact India‟s food security problems
and water security.15

India‟s per capita CO2 emissions increased from 0.8 to 1.7 metric tons from 1990 to
2010, however was well below the world average of 4.9 metric tons in 2010.

India‟s per capita GHG emissions are estimated to be 3.5 tonnes of CO 2 equivalent in
2030, which compares favourably with the global average per capita GHG emissions of
4.22 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2005.

India has reduced its CO2 emissions per unit of GDP by 20 per cent between 1990 and
201116

In pursuance of the Reporting obligations under parties to the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), India has undertaken to
communicate information about the implementation of the Convention, taking into account the

13
http://unfccc.int/meetings/lima_dec_2014/meeting/8141.php
14
The Times of India, New Delhi dated 14.1.2015
15
India, Ministry of Finance, Economic Survey, 2012-13, pp. 256-57.
16
Ibid, 2013-14, pp. 220-221
 8

common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and specific regional
and national development priorities, objectives and circumstances. India has submitted the
Second National Communication (NATCOM) to the UNFCCC in 2012.

Second NATCOM reported that there may not be significant decrease in the monsoon
rainfall in the future except in some parts of the southern peninsula for different time
periods - 2020s, 2050sand 2080s.

It provided information of the emissions of Green House Gases (GHG) for the years
2000 and 2007; information of impacts and vulnerability of key sectors such as Water,
Agriculture, Natural Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Infrastructure, etc. The Ministry is currently
preparing India‟s Third National Communication (TNC) and Biennial Update Report (BUR),
containing updates of earlier reported national GHG inventories, including a national
inventory report and information on mitigation actions, needs and support received. The
BURs are new reporting obligations under the transparency arrangement of sharing
information on implementation of the Convention17.

STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE

India‟s strategy for addressing Climate Change is reflected in many of its social and
economic development programmes. India is making progress in implementing National
Plans on Climate Change. The Government has a domestic mitigation goal of reducing
emissions intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 20-25% by 2020 in comparison with
2005 level. Several thrust areas have been identified in the Twelfth Five-Year Plan for this
purpose. India‟s Twelfth Five year Plan covering the period 2012-2017 calls for faster, more
inclusive and sustainable growth The Government of India has taken several initiatives in
terms of policies and programmes to explore and implement low carbon development
strategies18.

17
India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Annual Report, 2013-14, pp. 383-384
18
Op.cit., India‟s Progress in Combating Climate Change, p. Sec-II, i
 9

Prime Minister‟s Council on Climate Change

The Government has reconstituted the Prime Minister‟s Council on Climate Change
(PMCCC) on November (initially constituted in June 2007). The functions of the
Council are to evolve a coordinated response to issues relating to climate change at the
national level; to provide oversight for formulation of action plans in the area of assessment,
adaptation and mitigation of Climate Change; and to periodically monitor key policy
decisions19.

The National Action Plan on Climate Change

Recognizing the challenges of Climate Change, the Government of India had released
on 30 June 2008 the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlining existing and
future policies and programs addressing climate mitigation and adaptation. The Plan
identifies eight core “National Missions” viz. National Solar Mission, National Mission for
Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Water
Mission, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for a
“Green India”, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, National Mission on Strategic
Knowledge for Climate Change. All National Missions were approved by the Prime Minister‟s
Council on Climate Change and are at different stages of implementation. The Missions are
under constant review of the Council. The Government has set up the “Executive Committee
on Climate Change” to monitor the implementation of the eight National Mission under the
NAPCC. The research on adaptation and mitigation covers crops, livestock, fisheries and
natural resource management. Further, the Government is now revisiting all National
Missions under NAPCC in the light of new scientific information (IPCC AR5) and
technological advances20.

Budgetary Allocations [for the Twelfth Plan Period (2012-17)] and Key Achievements
under the National Programmes
Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

Budgetary allocation is INR 8,795 crore (approx. USD 1.4 billion).

Installed 2,970 MW of grid-connected solar generation capacity.

19
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3809 dated 16.12.2014
20
Op.cit, Economic Survey 2014-15, p. 123
 10

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

The total funding requirement assessed is INR 190 crore (approx. USD 31 million).

Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) cycle-1 launched and expected to be completed
successfully by March 2015. Covers 478 plants in 8 energy intensive industrial sectors
that account for one-third of total energy consumption.

National Mission on Sustainable Habitat

The total funding requirement assessed is INR 950 crore (approx. USD 153 million).

Sanctioned 760 water supply projects at an estimated cost of INR 35,650 crore
(approx. USD 5.75 billion) under ongoing programmes such as JNNURM.

National Water Mission

The Mission requires budgetary support of INR 89,101 crore (approx. USD 14.4 billion)
during the 11th (2007-2012) and 12th (2012-2017) Five Year Plan Periods. Proposals
for INR 196 crore (approx. USD 31.6 million) have been approved.

Revised National Water Policy (2012) adopted; created 1,082 new Ground Water
Monitoring Wells.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

The Mission requires budgetary support of INR 1,08,000 crore (approx. USD 17.4
billion). Proposals for INR 13,034 crore (approx. USD 2.1 billion) have been approved.

Developed 11,000 hectares of degraded land.

National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem

The total funding requirement for 2010 to 2017 is INR 1,695 crore (approx. USD 273
million). Proposals for INR 500 crore (approx. USD 81 million) have been approved.

Established 6 new centres relevant to Climate Change in existing institutions in

Himalayan States.

National Mission for a Green India

The total Mission cost is estimated to be INR 46,000 crore (approx. USD 7.4 billion).
Funding of INR 13,000 crore (approx. USD 2.1 billion) has been approved for
implementation of various activities under the Mission.
 11

11 Indian states have submitted perspective plans that cover 33 landscapes and
working area of 85,000 hectares21.

The NAPCC also describes other ongoing initiatives, including: (i) Power Generation;
(ii) Renewable Energy; and (iii) Energy Efficiency.

State Action Plan on Climate Change

In August 2009, the State Governments were called upon to prepare their own State
Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) consistent with strategies in the National Action
Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The SAPCCs have both adaptation and mitigation
component to address climate change impacts. So far, 31 States/Union Territories, namely,
Andaman and Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh including Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,
Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &
Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim,
Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal have prepared their State Action Plans
on Climate Change22.

A combined budgetary requirement of around INR 11,33,692 crore has been

estimated for implementation of the 31 SAPCCs23.

Of these, the 23 SAPCCs received from States/Union Territories, viz., Andaman and
Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh including Telangana, Arunanchal Pradesh, Chhatisgarh,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala,
Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab,
Puducherry, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal have been endorsed by the
National Steering Committee on Climate Change.24

21
Op.cit., India‟s Progress in Combating Climate Change, pp. 5-10
22
Op.cit., Economic Survey 2014-15, p. 124
23
Ibid
24
Information supplied by Climate Change Division, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
 12

The Government of India has taken several other measures to promote Sustainable
Development and address the threat of Climate Change.

Climate Change Action Programme

A new Central-sector Scheme titled „Climate Change Action Programme (CCAP)‟ has
been approved during the Twelfth Five Year Plan. The objective of the scheme is to build and
support capacity at the central and the state levels for assessing Climate Change impacts
and formulating and implementing adequate response measures. Various other science
initiatives are planned by the Ministry as part of the Climate Change Action Programme.
These include National Carbonaceous Aerosols Programme (NCAP), Long Term Ecological
Observatories (LTEO), and Coordinated Studies on Climate Change for North East Region
(CSCCNER). The NCAP is a major activity involving multi-institutional and multi-agency study
launched in 2011. In this initiative, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
will collaborate with the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Indian Space Research Organization,
the Ministry of Science and Technology and other associated agencies to enhance the
understanding of the role of Black Carbon in Climatic Change through monitoring and assess
the impacts of black carbon through various modeling techniques25.

Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment

The Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) was launched on 14
October 2009 to enhance knowledge about the impacts of Climate Change at the national
and subnational level. The INCCA has been designed to assess the drivers and implications
of Climate Change through scientific research; prepare Climate Change assessments once
every two years and build capacity towards management of Climate Change related risks and
opportunities, etc26.

Clean Development Mechanism

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) defined in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol,
allows a country with an emission-reduction or emission-limitation commitment to implement
an emission-reduction project in developing countries, such projects can earn saleable

25
Op.cit, Annual Report, p.385
26
Op.cit, India‟s Progress in Combating Climate Change, p. 19
 13

Certified Emission-Reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2.

India has been a significant gainer from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
As on 1 December 2014, 1541 of the total 7589 projects registered by the CDM Executive
Board are from India, which is the second highest in the world with China leading with 3763
registered projects. Certified Emission-Reductions (CERs) issued to Indian Projects are
191 million units27.

India‟s Low Carbon Strategy

A lower emissions pathway entails deployment of energy-efficient technologies,
increased use of renewable alternatives for power production, sustainable waste
management and conservation of forests. The energy intensity of India‟s output has shown a
declining trend owing to improvements in energy efficiency, autonomous technological
changes and economical use of energy. The cumulative cost of Low Carbon Strategies
between 2010 and 2030 have been estimated at around US$834 billion at 2011 prices 28.

National Clean Energy Fund

The Government of India had created the National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) in 2010
for the purpose of financing and promoting clean energy initiatives and funding research in
the areas of Clean Energy in the country.

On 10 July 2014, the Government of India announced an allocation of Rs. 100 crore
towards a newly established National Adaptation Fund, which will assist national and state
level activities to meet the costs of adaptation measures in areas that are particularly
vulnerable to the adverse effect of Climate Change29.

Auto Fuel Vision and Policy 2025

In December 2012, the Government of India had constituted an Expert Committee for
drafting the Auto Fuel Vision and Policy-2025 for the country to recommend a roadmap for
improving Auto Fuel Quality in India till 2025.

27
Op.cit., Economic Survey 2014-15, p. 128
28
Ibid, 2013-14, p. 224
29
Op.cit., India‟s Progress in Combating Climate Change, p. 13
 14

The Government of India issued average Fuel Consumption Standards for Cars in January
2014. It would require Corporate Average Fuel Consumption of cars to be less than or
equal to 5.49 litres/100 km from 2016- 17 and less than or equal to 4.77 litres/100 km from
2021-22. Introduction of these standards is expected to lead to a reduction of 22.97 million
tonnes of fuel consumption by 202530.

Cooperation with Bilateral and Multilateral donors on Climate Change

The Ministry has been implementing several projects with the assistance of Bilateral
and Multilateral Funding Agencies such as German Agency for International Cooperation
(GIZ), KfW (German Government – owned Development Bank), World Bank, United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) and Asian Development Bank (ADB). GIZ has
been supporting the Ministry under Advisory Services in Environmental Management (ASEM)
programme for a CDM Cell and an adaptation project. The World Bank has sanctioned a
US $ 400 million project for Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Himachal
Pradesh. A project with World Bank on „Partnership for Market Readiness‟ is also being
implemented. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has also approved a number of
activities in relation to Climate Change during the fifth cycle of funding (2013-17) 31.

The United Sates agreed on enhancing Bilateral Climate Change Cooperation; Cooperation

on Hydroflurocarbons (HFCs) and Accelerating Clean Energy Finance (CEF), etc32.

Cooperation with other countries

India has been closely coordinating with members of G77, China, BASIC (Brazil,
South Africa, India and China) and Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs). India hosted
the 14th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on climate change in Chennai, on 15 to 16 February
2013. At the regional level, India partnered with Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh to address

30
Ibid, p. 18
31
Op.cit, Annual Report, p.386
32
www.whitehouse.gov
 15

adverse effects of Climate Change through adaptation actions in the four thematic areas of
Food, Water, Energy and Biodiversity33.

Parliamentary Forum on Global Warming and Climate Change

The Forum was constituted for the first time in 2008 and since then has been involving
parliamentarians to interact with specialists working on Global Warming and Climate Change.
The Members of the Forum have been taking a lot of interest in the meetings by participating
in the discussions. Presentations on various subjects relating to Climate Change like: Impact
of Climate Change on Agriculture; Population, Resources & Biodiversity with reference to
Climate Change; Technology and Climate Change; National Solar Mission and related
initiatives under the National Action Plan on Climate Change; National Mission on
Sustainable Habitat; Renewable Energy – New Challenges and Priorities; Climate Science –
Recent Findings and Innovative Response to Climate Change; and Learning from Climate
change Act in the United Kingdom, etc. have taken place. These give insight into different
perspective on the issue of Climate Change and mitigation methods.

Ms. Baroness Bryony Worthington, Opposition Spokesperson on Energy/Climate

Change in the House of Lords, British Parliament was invited to share her views on the
subject – „Learning from Climate Change Act in the United Kingdom‟. UK framed Climate
Change Act 2008 to meet the challenges posed by Climate Change and Global Warming.
The act mainly envisages Carbon target and budgeting, the establishment of Independent
Committee on Climate Change to advise the Government, trading schemes, adaptation to
Climate Change and waste reduction scheme and their impact thereon. In the context of
India, she responded that green growth and energy security need to be in focus areas for
India34.

33
Op.cit, Annual Report, p.386
34
http://164.100.47.134/committee/Forum_informations
 16

Summing up of Important Measures India has taken to address Climate Change

India has doubled the Clean Energy Cess on coal, which very few countries have,
and the Clean Energy Fund already has over 3 billion US dollars to be used for
promoting clean technologies

India‟s National Solar Mission is being scaled up five-fold from 20,000 megawatts to
100,000 megawatts. This will mean an additional investment of 100 billion dollars and
savings of about 165 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

India‟s first „Net Zero Energy‟ consuming building – Indira Paryavaran Bhawan
is constructed in such a way that it can meet most of its annual energy
requirements through solar power.

India is releasing 6 billion US dollars in one go for intensive afforestation which will
result in more carbon sinks.

India has allocated about 200 million US dollars for the „National Adaptation Fund‟,
setting-up of Ultra Mega Solar Projects, Ultra-Modern Super Critical Coal Based
Thermal Power Technology, and the development of Solar Parks on canals.

Initiative of “100 Smart Cities‟ with integrated policies for adaptation and mitigation to
reduce the vulnerability and exposure of urban areas to climate change and also to
improve their energy efficiency for which 1.2 billion US dollars have been allocated.

India has put in place stringent norms for cement industry. India‟s Action Plan for
cleaning, River Ganga will bring multiple benefits of pollution reduction and climate
adaptation. India has also taken initiatives for protecting coastal, Himalayan, and
forest areas.

India has initiated preparations to develop a National Air Quality Index and have
launched a National Air Quality Scheme
 17

India is committed and ready to play its part in the global fight against climate
change35.

CONCLUSION

India is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of Climate Change and significant

measures are needed to build climate resilience and assist communities with adaptation.
Several programmes are already underway in many parts of India, often in partnership with
local financial institutions and grassroots Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) that are
working with local communities on project implementation. Through its Corporate Social
Responsibility programmes and other initiatives, Indian industry is also promoting sustainable
livelihoods and infrastructure development across the country. Recognizing the important
role that non-state actors must play in shaping India‟s response to Climate Change, the
Government of India is taking steps to make this an inclusive and consultative process and
invites the participation of all communities, NGOs and Industry.

Steps have been taken to finalize India‟s Intended Nationally Determined

Contributions (INDC) on mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology and capacity building
(to be submitted before COP-21, December 2015). The comprehensive INDC would also
project the requirement of support in terms of finance and technology transfers, etc. The
Contributions will also take into account India‟s domestic obligations of addressing the basic
development needs in terms of achieving minimum standards of living for its entire
population36.

35
www.envfor.nic.in/print/4753
36
Op.cit., India‟s Progress in Combating Climate Change, p. 1 & 22
 18

Annexure - I

Time line detailing the international response to Climate Change

2014 - COP 20 and CMP 10 took place in Lima, Peru.

2013 - COP 19 and CMP 9 took place in Warsaw, Poland.

2012 - The Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol is adopted by the CMP at CMP8.

2011 - The Durban Platform for Enhanced Action drafted and accepted by the COP, at
COP17.

2010 - Cancun Agreements drafted and largely accepted by the COP, at COP16.

2009 - Copenhagen Accord drafted at COP15 in Copenhagen.

2007 - IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report released. Climate science entered into
popular consciousness. At COP13, Parties agreed on the Bali Road Map.

2005 - Entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol.

2001 - Release of IPCC's Third Assessment Report. Bonn Agreements adopted, based
on the Buenos Aires Plan of Action of 1998.

1997 - Kyoto Protocol formally adopted in December at COP3.

1996 - The UNFCCC Secretariat is set up to support action under the Convention.

1995 - The first Conference of the Parties (COP 1) takes place in Berlin.

1994 - UNFCCC enters into force.

1992 - The INC adopts UNFCCC text. At the Earth Summit in Rio, the UNFCCC is
opened for signature.

1991 - First meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) takes place.

1990 - IPCC's first assessment report released.

1988 - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is set up.

1979 - The first World Climate Conference (WCC) takes place