Climate Change in India

Why in news?

According to new research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences   earth might move into a high temperature “hothouse earth” pathway from where it would not be able to stabilize climate

Note: Hothouse Earth – Is a period with no continental glaciers, the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are high, with high sea surface temperatures and uncontrollable warning.

Climate Change – a reality

1. The planet’s average surface temperature has risen about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century. According to climate scientists, this change has largely been driven by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere
2. There has been warming of oceans by 0.302 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969. Further, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of surface ocean waters has increased by about 30 percent
3. According to data from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Greenland lost 281 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and 2016 and Antarctica lost about 119 billion tons during the same time period.
4. Global sea level rose about 8 inches in the last century and rate of rise has increased significantly in last 20 years
5. There has been a rise in number and intensity of extreme events. For example, scientists attribute the rise in number of high intensity hurricanes in USA to climate change
6. With rising global temperatures, mass coral bleaching events and infectious disease outbreaks have become more frequent. For example: In 2016-17, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia suffered extreme coral bleaching which killed around 50% of its corals.
7. Wildlife extinction: Australian rodent, Bramble Cay Melomys has been declared extinct due to human-induced climate change

Impact of Climate Change on India:

1. Impact on water Resources: Change in climate is expected to have long-term implications on the quality and quantity of water. According to NATCOM there will be decline in runoff in all river basins in India except Narmada and Tapi
2. Impact on agriculture and Food resources: According to Indian Agricultural Research Institute, climate change will have adverse impact on Rabi crop- for every 1°C rise in temperature, the estimated loss of wheat is 4-5 million tonnes
3. Rise in extreme weather events: Climate change has increased India’s vulnerability of extreme events. The 2017 high intensity Ockhi cyclone and 2018 dust storms in north India was attributed to climate change
4. Impact on Human Health: Changes in climate may alter distribution of vector species (malaria mosquitoes) and may increase vulnerability to diseases. Further rising heat waves and cold waves have adversely affected human health.
5. Impact on Forest Cover: According to studies, large areas of forest in India are likely to experience shift in forest types due to climate change. For example: xeric scrublands will increase
6. Impact on Coastal Areas: A sea-level rise of 46-59cm in India by 21000 is estimated by NATCOM. Rising sea level and increasing tropical cyclone events pose great threat to coastal areas in India

Initiatives taken by India to combat climate change:

Commitment to Paris Agreement on Climate Change, 2015

Under the Paris Agreement, —India stated its proposed commitments to address climate change as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which was submitted for 2015–30-

1. Reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% by 2030 from 2005 levels;
2. Increase the share of non-fossil fuel-based electricity to 40% by 2030;
3. Increase renewable energy generation to 175 GW by 2022;
4. Enhance its forest cover which will absorb 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030.

National Action Plan for Climate Change

1. National Solar Mission: Aims to promote the use of solar energy in India

• India along with France launched the International Solar Alliance at the UN climate Change Conference in Paris

2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency: Aims to improve energy efficiency of domestic, commercial and industrial sectors in India

• Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme, Energy Conservation Building Code, India’s Zero Defect, Zero Effect policy aims to enhance energy and resource efficiency.

3. National Mission for Sustainable Habitat: Aims at encouraging sustainable urban planning in India
4. National Water Mission: Aims to ensure sustainable water supply by conserving water, minimizing waste and ensuring equitable distribution of water resources
5. National Mission for Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change: Aims to create a comprehensive knowledge system that informs and supports climate change action in India
6. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: Aims at improving sustainability, productivity, remuneration and climate resilience of agriculture in India.
7. National Mission for Green India: Aims to protect enhance and restore forests and respond to climate change
8. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: Aims to enhance understanding of climate change impacts and adaptations required in the Himalayas

Draft National Forest Policy, 2017:

The draft National Forest Policy calls for integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in forest management through the mechanism of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus) so that the impacts of the climate change is minimised.

Promotion of Bio fuels

The Indian government has been promoting Biofuel through various policy interventions. Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the National policy on Biofuel, 2018. The policy aims at contributing to energy security and climate change mitigation by achieving a target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol and 5% blending of biodiesel in diesel by 2030.

Clean Air Initiatives- Reducing Vehicular Emissions:

• The Indian government has decided to skip BS-V and directly move to BS-VI from 2020. It has further agreed to advance the proposed date for Euro-VI from 2026 to 2020
• FAME (Faster Adoption & Manufacturing go Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) India Scheme: The scheme aims at in creating infrastructure and promoting the use of environment-friendly electric vehicles.
• The National Urban Transport Policy has implemented measures to increase public transport. For example: Expansion of Metro Rail Transportation System in Delhi, Metro Bus Project in Bangalore

Issues and challenges

1. Poverty: According to multidimensional poverty index, 53% of Indians are multidimensional poor. Lack of inclusive policies and unresolved debate between environment and development would make poor and tribal people more vulnerable to climate change related activities.
2. Funding: Absence of well established green equity and debt markets in India along with USA pulling out of Paris Agreement has further complicated the funding mechanisms.
3. Technology: India lacks poorly in power efficient technologies like solar technologies and efficient thermal power plants. Low budgetary allocations towards research and development especially in the field of climate change makes India dependent on developed nations for technology transfer.
4. Data: India has inadequate mechanisms to collect data on climate change in India. Example: the changing flowering pattern of plants, breeding seasons of migratory birds, etc.
5. Lack of awareness: Despite numerous government initiatives, the solution to climate change lies with the people themselves. However, the lack of awareness among people hinders the success of various initiatives aiming at combating climate change.

Way Forward

1. It is important to build resilience among rural and urban communities to deal with natural disasters, adapt to environmental changes, and manage potential risk arising out of climate change
2. A public policy for corporate social responsibility should be formulated at national level considering disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
3. Research and development backed with adequate funding should be encouraged to develop and promote green technologies.
4. There should be adequate focus on educating people about climate change. Behavioural change among the masses is important to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change
5. Climate Change is one of the most alarming issues of 21st century, all the countries should address the issue with a shared perspective