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Climate Change

Previously asked Questions

• Ecological considerations need not hamper development. -1993
• Urbanization is a blessing in disguise. -1997
• Protection of ecology and environment is essential for sustained economic development. -2006
• Urbanization and its hazards -2008
• Should a moratorium be imposed on all fresh mining in tribal areas of the country? -2010

QUOTES BY FAMOUS PERSONALITIES

• "One of the first conditions of happiness is that the link between man and nature shall not be broken."
~Leo Tolstoy
• "The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love
the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.” ~ Pope John Paul II
• “We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment.” Margaret Mead
• "A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and
giving fresh strength to our people." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
• "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children."
• “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today.” – Chinese proverb.

EVIDENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE

• According to IPCC "on average the temperatures in Northern Hemisphere during the second half of the
twentieth century were very likely higher than in the past 500 years ".
• The IPCC has pointed out
that "atmospheric
concentrations of CO2
exceed by far the natural
range over the last 650,000
years."
• Cryosphere continues to
shrink: The rate of Antarctica
ice mass loss has tripled in
the last decade. Global sea
level rose about 8 inches in
the last century.
• Ocean acidification - The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the upper layer of the oceans is
increasing by about 2 billion tons per year.
• According to the State of Global Climate Report 2017, atmospheric methane reached a new high and is
now 257% of the pre-industrial level.
• Global Warming is affecting nearly all terrestrial and marine ecosystems: Recently
scientists discovered that the Bramble Cay Melomys – an Australian rat-like rodent – went extinct (it was
last seen in 2007) due to rising seas inundating its tiny coral island. It’s the first mammal confirmed to be
pushed to extinction entirely due to climate change.

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IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

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Environment m
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Rise in extreme weather events- Rising global temperature is accompanied by the changes in weather
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and climate, like changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more
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frequent and severe heat waves. Changes in precipitation patterns will also be more pronounced.
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• Accelerated Sea Level Rise: Global sea level has risen by about 8 inches since 1880. As a result of added
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water from melting ice and expansion of seawater as it warms, sea level is projected to rise another 1 to
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4 feet by 2100.
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Ocean Acidification- The planet's oceans and glaciers have also experienced some big changes - oceans
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are warming and becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and sea levels are rising.
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Changing Landscapes - The Arctic Ocean is expected to become essentially ice free in summer before
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mid-century.
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• Ecosystems at Risk - Increased temperatures are changing weather and vegetation patterns across the
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globe, forcing animal species to migrate to new, cooler areas in order to survive. Plant and animal ranges
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have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.

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• Threat to species survival- The rapid change of climate change is likely to exceed the ability of many
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species to migrate or adjust. Experts predict that one-fourth of Earth’s species will be headed for
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extinction by 2050 if the warming trend continues at its current rate.

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Human Health
• Illnesses - In 2018, for example, extreme heat waves caused more than 1,500 deaths in India.
• Spread of infectious diseases, mainly because warmer temperatures allow disease-carrying insects,
animals and microbes to survive in areas where they were once blocked by cold weather.
• Spread of diseases to new regions: Diseases and pests that were once limited to the tropics — such as
mosquitoes that carry malaria may find hospitable conditions in new areas that were once too cold to
support them.

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• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that climate change may have caused more than
150,000 deaths in the year 2000 alone, with an increase in deaths likely in the future.

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Economic Losses

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If no action is taken to curtail the global carbon emissions, climate change could cost around 5 to 20
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percent of the annual global gross domestic product, in comparison, it would take 1 percent of GDP to
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lessen the most damaging effects of climate change.

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• A recent report of the World Bank found that climate change could effectively negate economic progress,
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pushing 45 million Indians into extreme poverty over the next 15 years.
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• Climate change may significantly alter shoreline habitats and cost millions for the relocation of ports and
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shore infrastructure.
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• Globally, more intense hurricanes and downpours could cause billions of dollars in damage to property
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and infrastructure.
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High sea temperatures also threaten the survival of coral reefs, which generate an estimated $375
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billion per year in goods and services.

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Agriculture Productivity/Food Security

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• Agricultural productivity is sensitive to two broad classes of climate-induced effects. The first one is its
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direct effect due to changes in temperature, precipitation and carbon dioxide concentrations; and the
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other is the indirect effect through changes in soil moisture and the distribution and frequency of
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infestation by pests and diseases.

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Nutritional Security: Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide reduce the concentrations of protein
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and essential minerals in most plant species, including wheat, soybeans, and rice.
• Impacts on fisheries: Changes in temperature and seasons can affect the timing of reproduction and
migration. Some marine disease outbreaks have also been linked with changing climate.
• Impact on Livestock: Heat waves, which are projected to increase under climate change, could directly
threaten livestock by increasing their vulnerability to disease, reducing fertility, and declining milk
production.

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IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON INDIA
Given below are the implications of climate change, specifically for India, with observations from the Fifth
Assessment Report by the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.
Effects of Climate Change on Weather
• Extreme temperatures are expected to increase by 1-4°C, with maximum increase in coastal regions.
• The number of monsoon break days has increased while the number of monsoon depressions has
declined.
• The Himalayan region will see maximum increase in precipitation, while the north-eastern region will
experience the minimum increase.
• An increase in extreme rainfall events occurred at the expense of weaker rainfall events over the central
Indian region and in many other areas.
• People living in districts along the eastern coast of India are expected to be especially vulnerable to the
impact of extreme weather events because of poor infrastructure and demographic development.
• For example, the Mahanadi river basin in India will see an increased possibility of floods in September
while an increased possibility of water scarcity in April.
• Delhi is one of the world’s five most populated cities that are located in areas with high risk of floods.

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• The estimated countrywide agricultural loss in India in 2030 is over $7 billion. It will severely affect the

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income of 10 per cent of the population.

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• Wheat yields in the Indo-Gangetic plains are

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expected to experience a 51 per cent reduction According to Economic Survey of 2018, India incurs
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in the most high-yielding areas due to heat losses of about $9-10 billion annually (Rs 62,000
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stress. crore) due to extreme weather events. It also noted

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• With current temperatures approaching critical farmers’ income losses from climate change would
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levels in North India in October, South India in be between 15 % and 18 % on an average.

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April and August and in East India from March to

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June, rice development will accelerate and reduce the time required for growth.
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• A third of forest areas in India are projected to change by 2100, with deciduous forests changing into
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evergreen ones due to increased precipitation.

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Health
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• High temperatures are associated with mortality rates in India and heat waves will especially affect
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outdoor workers. Air pollution in combination with increased temperatures will also affect the health of
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people.
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• Mental disorders and post -traumatic stress syndrome have also been seen in extreme weather events
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and disaster-prone areas.

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• In addition to flood deaths, contamination of urban flood waters will increase the risk of water-borne
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diseases.
• Studies have found correlation between the prevalence of vector-borne diseases like malaria and rainfall
in India.
• A study conducted at the University of California – Berkeley estimated that climate change could have
contributed the deaths of 59,300 farmers or farm workers over the last 30 years.

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AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change will have a severe impact on Agriculture and its allied activities. Certain regions of the world
like Siberia or Northern Canada will benefit from a small rise in temperature since this will help to prolong the
duration of the crop. However, agriculture in tropical countries like India will come under serious threat
because of climate change. The areas of special concern in India are unfavorable changes in mean
temperature, excess or deficit in rainfall, extreme weather events, sea level rise, and more frequent and
severe coastal storms and tsunamis. The need of the hour is to formulate and implement a locally suitable
comprehensive approach based on the idea of a Climate Smart Agriculture.
Climate Smart Agriculture: As per FAO, Climate Smart Agriculture is that form of agriculture which
sustainably:
(i) increases productivity
(ii) enhances resilience (adaptation)
(iii) reduces/removes GHG (mitigation) where possible, and
(iv) Enhances achievement of national food security and development goals.
Some of the following Climate Smart Agricultural measures can be undertaken in India:
• Establish at the Panchayat level, Climate Risk Management Centres and train a cadre of Community

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Climate Risk Managers.

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• Conservation of Climate Smart Millets and their reintroduction in the diet as millets and other

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underutilized crops are more tolerant to drought and heat and are also nutritious.

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Farming systems for adaptation to climate change will have to be designed by ICAR, Agricultural

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Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras and popularized through local men and women trained to become
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Climate Risk Managers.
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• Methane, which is another greenhouse gas can be used to promote biogas plants.(example - GobarDhan
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yojana). Nitrous oxide emissions as a result of fertilizer application can be reduced through the use of
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neem coated urea.

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• There will be a need for anticipatory research The M S Swaminathan Research Foundation has
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in several areas of farming which will need established in Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu, a Genetic
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change. For example, in crops like wheat and Garden of Halophytes in order to conserve
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rice, the breeder should shift attention to per halophytes and make them available to breeders for
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day productivity from per crop productivity, designing climate smart coastal agricultural methods.
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since the duration of the crop is likely to get

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reduced.
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• Preparation for more frequent floods and hailstorms - Scope of Biosaline farming involving both
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halophytes (salt tolerant plants) and marine aquaculture must be explored like that of the farmer of
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Kuttanad in Kerala perfected the method of cultivating rice below sea level (salinity management and
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tolerant varieties).
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EFFORTS TO COUNTER CLIMATE CHANGE

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The need of the hour is to think of sustainable solutions which are not just temporary but also take into
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account the needs of future generations.

It must be recognized that natural resources are not unlimited and hence their consumption must be
rationed and planned so as to ensure sustainable development. Nature friendly alternatives like wind farms,
hydro-electricity, solar power, geo-thermal and bio-mass for the generation of power need to be explored
and adequately implemented into the system.
Individual level – At an individual level, several actions could result in a substantial decrease in an
individual's carbon footprint.

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• Eating a plant-based diet, avoiding air travel, living car free or using public transport, and having
smaller families can have a high impact on reduction in carbon footprint.
• Simple steps like replacing regular cars with electric and hybrid models, recycling waste and upgrading
light bulbs can also have a moderate effect on reduction of one's carbon footprint.
• For example, living car-free saves about 2.4 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, while eating a plant-
based diet saves 0.8 tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year.
Community/ Regional Level
While several initiatives are being taken at the community level, some of the following case studies can be
seen as examples to reinforce the power of community actions at the regional level.
● Integrated Solid waste management project in Kanpur has emerged as a model Solid waste
management city. Kanpur has been home to textiles, leather, fertilizers and arms manufacturing, each
with its capacity to pollute. However, Kanpur Nagar Nigam along with the state government of Uttar
Pradesh worked together to experiment with public-private partnership has have transformed the
system of solid waste management in the city.
● Climate friendly construction techniques in Gorakhpur which include bricks from local areas and use of
indigenous knowledge has helped in reducing cost of building, reducing carbon footprint associated with
transporting bricks long distances and enabling climate resilient housing.
● In Senegal with financial aid from UNDP, communities of 203 villages are establishing about 26

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Community Natural Reserves (RNC) as well as nine credits and saving mutuals to improve the living

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conditions of households, specifically women groups and enhance climate change resilience.

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● According to UNEP, if current pollution rates continue, there will be more plastic in the sea than fish by

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2050, as globally, only 14% of plastics is recycled. Recently, Maharashtra Government has enforced

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plastic ban in State. Also, recently Uttar Pradesh Government has reintroduced plastic ban in state from
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July 15, 2018, third time since 2015, reflecting poor implementation of previous bans.
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● Village Edatheruvu in Palakkad, Kerala has devised a unique citizen initiative aimed at collection,
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segregation and scientific disposal of the waste from as many as 160 households. Started 5 years ago,
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the village has a waste collection center which works under the supervision of representatives of families
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in the village.
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Global level
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Various initiatives have been taken at the global scale to expedite the efforts to counter climate change and
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rise of global temperatures. Some of the recent ones include:

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• Paris Climate Deal: It aims to limit the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C
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above pre- industrial level and on

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India’s INDC
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driving efforts to limit it even further • Reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 level.
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to 1.5°C. Developed countries are • Achieve about 40% electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel
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urged to scale up their level of based energy resources by 2030 with help of transfer of technology and low
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financial support with a complete cost international finance.

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road map towards achieving the goal • Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent
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through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.

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of jointly providing US$ 100 billion by

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2020 and subsequently US$ 100 billion per year till 2025. Other Parties may also contribute, but on a
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purely voluntary basis. Ratchet mechanism requires countries to return to the table in 2020 and spell out
their plans for 2025 to 2030. This creates the opportunity for the world to potentially put itself on a
course to stay below 200C.
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: (COP-23) of the UNFCCC was recently
concluded at Bonn, Germany. It adopted the Fiji Momentum for Implementation. The first ever Gender
Action Plan to the UNFCCC was adopted at COP 23. Other initiatives include Powering Past Coal Alliance
and Below 50 initiative.

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• Suva Expert Dialogue: It aims for facilitating the mobilization and securing of expertise, and
enhancement of support, including finance, technology and capacity-building, for addressing loss and
damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change.

INDIA’S GREEN ACTIONS - EFFORTS TO COUNTER CLIMATE CHANGE

India aims to achieve a target of 175 GW of renewable energy capacity to be reached by 2022.

Steps taken by Government of India

• The Eight Missions of NAPCC –

• Use of Renewable Energy-The Electricity Act 2003 together with the National Electricity Policy 2005
(NEP) and the Tariff Policy (TP) mandate promotion of electricity generation from renewable

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sources. The Electricity Act and these policies envisage regulatory interventions for promotion of

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renewable energy sources.

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• PAT scheme is now India’s main effort-defining policy. It is overseen by the BEE and was introduced

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by the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).
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Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) - Process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a
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proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and
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human-health impacts.
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• National Afforestation Program - It is being implemented for afforestation of degraded forest lands
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• Nagar Vana Udyan Yojana - A minimum of 25 hectares of forests will be created in the city.
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Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India - By Department of Space and will provide
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detailed information on the present land use, and the severity of land degradation in different
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states.
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• Green Skill Development Programme - Green Skill contribute to preserving or restoring

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environmental quality for sustainable future and include jobs that protect ecosystems and
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biodiversity, reduce energy and minimize waste and pollution. Recently, it Is being expanded to an
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all-India level.
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Climate Friendly Transport Sector-. One of the major initiatives has been upgradation of vehicular
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emission norms such as Bharat Stage III and Bharat Stage IV. The commercial manufacture of
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battery-operated vehicles has begun in India with a view to promoting low/ no carbon emitting
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vehicles. National Mission on Hybrid and electric Motors.

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• Conservation of Agriculture, Forest and Water Resources- National Mission for Sustainable
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Agriculture. There are also programmes for crop improvement and drought proofing. India has
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launched an ambitious Green India Mission to increase the quality and quantity of forest cover in 10
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million ha of land. Also an incentive-based additional special grant of US$ 1.2 billion had been
announced by the central government to all states for sustainable forestry management.
• Forestry Sector- The National Forest Policy (1988), Participatory Forest Management/Joint Forest
Management Programme, National Afforestation Programme, National Forestry Action Programme
and National Watershed Development Project for Rain fed Areas.
• Enhancing Adaptive Capacity- the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is
India’s National Implementing Entity (NIE) for the Adaptation Fund created under the UNFCCC.

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India has attained 4th position in global wind power installed capacity after China, USA and Germany. As of
today, India has achieved 46.3 GW grid-interactive power capacity; 7.5 GW of grid-connected power
generation capacity in renewable energy; and small hydro power capacity of 4.3 GW.

Climate finance
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) runs a program called the
Global Environmental Facility, which provides some funding for adaptation to least developed
countries and Small Island states.
• Under the GEF umbrella, the GEF Trust Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), and the
Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) operate to carry out the climate change adaptation financing
goals of the GEF.
• Another UNFCCC mechanism is The Adaptation Fund which provides funds for projects that prove to
have additional benefits for adaptation to climate change. The Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM) set up as part of the Kyoto Protocol is the main source of income for the UNFCCC Adaptation
Fund.
• The Copenhagen Accord commits developed countries to goal of sending $100 billion per year to
developing countries in assistance for climate change mitigation and adaptation through 2020. This
climate change fund is called the Green Climate Fund.
• Green Finance Ecosystem - A broad term which refers to financial investments flowing into

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sustainable development projects and initiatives, environmental products, and policies that

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encourage the development of a more sustainable economy. Some of the major initiatives include -:

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o National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) under NABARD

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o Issuing of India’s first green bonds in 2015

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o India INX of GIFT City has recently listed Indian Railways Finance Corporation's (IRFC’s) first green
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bond on its global securities market (GSM)
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o BSE’s has launched a green index called BSE Greenex

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o The Reserve Bank of India has included renewable energy project financing as a part of priority
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sector lending category

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o International Solar Alliance led by India has targeted to mobilise $1 trillion in financing and
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deploy solar capacities of 1,000 GW by 2030

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CAMPA Fund: It will be used for afforestation to compensate for loss of forest cover, regeneration of
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forest ecosystem, wildlife protection and infrastructure development.

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GENDER AND CLIMATE CHANGE

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• Women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change in situations
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of poverty, and the majority of the world’s poor are women.

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• Women’s unequal participation in decision-making processes and labour markets compound inequalities
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and often prevent women from fully contributing to climate-related planning, policy-making and
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implementation.
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• Yet, women can (and do) play a critical role in response to climate change due to their local knowledge of
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resources and leadership in e.g. sustainable resource management and/or leading sustainable practices
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at the household and community level.

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• Parties to the UNFCCC have recognized the importance of involving women and men equally in UNFCCC
processes and in the development and implementation of national climate policies that are gender-
responsive by establishing a dedicated agenda Lima Work Programme on Gender (COP-2014): It
item under the Convention addressing issues of aims to advance implementation of gender
gender and climate change and by including responsive climate policies and mandates across all
overarching text in the Paris Agreement. areas of the negotiations.
• Gender Action Plans have become particularly

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 useful to governments seeking to ensure their national climate change strategies and programmes are
gender-responsive and harmonious across sectors. GGO has supported many governments through
processes to create Climate Change Gender Action Plans (ccGAPs).

CLIMATE REFUGEES
According to International Organization for Migration, Environmental migrants are persons or groups of
persons who, predominantly for reasons of sudden or progressive change in the environment that adversely
affects their lives or living conditions, are obliged to leave their habitual homes, or choose to do so, either
temporarily or permanently, and who move either within their country or abroad.
According to an UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) report, India has been ranked as the world's
most disaster-prone country for displacement of
Nansen Initiative (2012)
residents.
It’s a state-led consultative process to build
The loss of traditional territories land threatens the
consensus on a protection agenda addressing the
existence of traditional and cultural heritage of
needs of people displaced across borders in the
minority and indigenous groups. Displaced people are
often more susceptible to recruitment by terrorist context of disasters and the effects of climate
change.
organizations.
Nations must adopt the principle of common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR) along with polluter

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pays principle, and climate justice approach, so that most responsible for climate change should bear the

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primary responsibility for addressing its impacts.

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND TECHNOLOGY

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Case Studies on How Technology can solve Climate Change related Issues
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• Shell has demonstrated that even people playing on a football field can be the source of power
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generation, developing a technology that transforms footsteps into energy in a Brazilian favela.
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• The greenhouse gas emissions of buildings are also significant. We need lighting, power, heating and
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cooling whether at home or in the office, at school or in a hospital. The combined emissions from
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these sources contribute almost 20% of global emissions. Green Building Technology: It refers to
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both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-
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efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation,

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maintenance, renovation, and demolition.

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• Biological or chemical feed supplements that inhibit methane production, or even new low-emission
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livestock breeds, are some potential examples of reducing GHG emissions in Agriculture.
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• Transport represents 23% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Some scientists have discovered
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new materials offering an alternative to battery power and proven to be between 1,000-10,000
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times more powerful than the existing battery alternative. The new technology is believed to have the
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potential for electric cars to travel to similar distances as petrol cars without the need to stop for
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lengthy recharging.
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• About a quarter of all global emissions come from feeding the world’s 7 billion people, and part of that
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comes from the consumption of meat. One of the alternatives is to start producing lab-grown meat,
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and to produce meat substitutes that look, taste and feel like the real thing. The company Beyond
Meat, already supported by Bill Gates, has created the world’s first meat burger that is entirely plant
based. It’s made mostly from vegetable protein found in peas.
• Farmers in Kenya can now take better care of their crops through an early warning system that alerts
communities of potential floods or other risks, thanks to UNEP’s Climwarn project.
• Sidewalk Labs is harnessing digital technologies to solve today’s pressing urban problems. One of their
current projects involves looking at how traffic flows through a city and how hotspots of congestion
might be solved. This could dramatically reduce air pollution in our cities.

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 CONCLUSION
• Gandhiji had said, "The Earth has enough for everyone's needs, but not everyone’s greed.' With the
entire world coming together to secure the future and pass on the legacy of the earth to our forthcoming
generations we can hope to create resources to satisfy everyone's needs.
• Integrated look at industrial growth, good agriculture management and agro-forestry practices are the
need of the hour.
• As India gears to achieve a global presence in energy industry, through such initiatives, investment in R&D
would increase and knowledge sharing among the various stakeholders can be organized on the national
scene.
• The use of plastic bags must be substituted with eco-friendly plastics. In areas of water scarcity, drought-
proofing measures through water storage and rainwater harvesting can be applied. Unless we develop
indigenous green technology, we cannot attain a sustainable development.
• Finally, it needs to be reiterated that at this juncture a civilization that is ecologically balanced has to be
the strategy of all countries, including India.
• Humans have to learn to care about what happens to other species and ecosystems that are; to treat
nature as if it mattered. What is more important at this juncture is that humans can no longer treat the
Environment and other species as mere objects but take care of them for their own well-being.

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