Impact of Global warming on the economy
New Delhi: India with 16% of world population contributes to approximately 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions that amounts to 23.31% of USA, 30.27% of China, 37.39% of EU-15. Though this emission records minimum in comparison with other countries, the Government is aware of the likely impacts of global warming on various sectors. A preliminary assessment of impacts and vulnerability due to projected climate change in key sectors such as water, agriculture, forestry, ecosystems, coastal zones, health, energy and infrastructure was undertaken at the time of preparation of India’s Initial National Communication on Climate Change submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2004. The projected climate change impact scenarios indicate increase in and variable trend of both rainfall and temperature into the 21st century, reduction in the quantity of surface run off across the various river basins, severity of droughts and intensity of floods in various parts of the country.
India has been following a path of sustainable development through a range of policies and programmes to mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Some of the steps taken by the Government include inter alia – setting up of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and encouraging energy conservation and introduction of energy efficiency labeling, promoting use of renewable energy, power sector reforms, use of cleaner and lesser carbon-intensive fuel for transport, fuel switching to cleaner energy, afforestation and conservation of forests, promotion of clean coal technologies, reduction of gas flaring, encouraging Mass Rapid Transport systems and environmental quality management for all sectors. Besides, India spends every year over 2 percent of the GDP in development measures with strong adaptation content.
Further, the Government has also set up an “Expert Committee on Impacts of Climate Change” in May 2007 to study the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on India and to identify the measures that may be needed to address vulnerability to anthropogenic climate change impacts.
India as a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has contributed to the preparation of an Action plan at the Conference held in Bali in December 2007 to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the UNFCCC through long-term cooperative action, now, up to and beyond 2012.
The Government has set up an “Expert Committee on Impacts of Climate Change” in May, 2007 to study the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on India and identify the measures needed to address vulnerability to anthropogenic climate change impacts and any other matter relevant to these.
Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change to coordinate national action for assessment, adaptation and mitigation of climate change was constituted on 6th June 2007 to evolve a coordinated response relating to climate change at the National level. The Council has decided, inter alia, to prepare a National Action Plan on Climate Change to address the challenges of climate change.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Namo Narain Meena, in a written reply to a question by Prof. P.J. Kurein, in the Rajya Sabha today.
