India is at the top of the list of nations expected to be worst hit by the adverse effects of climate change. It is striving to overcome the problem by advancing strategies like investing massively in renewable energy.
Recent Developments Conference of Parties-24 (COP-24)
Key Outcomes of COP 24
India’s Stand on COP 24
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - Special Report on Global Warming
Key Highlights The report highlights a number of climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5oC compared to 2oC, or more.
Global Climate Risk Index 2019
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Causes of Climate Change |
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Natural |
Anthropogenic |
Biotic processes |
Deforestation |
Variation in Earth’s orbit |
Chemical Fertilizers |
Forest fire |
Use of fossil fuel |
Volcanic eruption |
Industries |
Ocean currents |
Burning of crops |
Solar cycle |
Burning of crops |
Glacier melting |
Increase in number of vehicles |
India’s Concern
Climate Change Mitigation-Background |
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio de Janeiro, 1992 (Rio Earth Summit) – 172 countries participated, 108 at level of heads of State or Government - Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, the Statement of Forest Principles, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. |
1997 Kyoto Protocol- Annex I Parties commit to take binding reduction targets2007 Bali COP: Introduction of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA), to engage developing countries in voluntary mitigation effort. |
2009- 2010 (Copenhagen & Cancun COP): comprehensive international system for collective action and major developing countries (including India) announced voluntary mitigation pledges. |
2011 Durban COP: ADP launched for evolving a new agreement for post-2020 period. |
Warsaw & Lima COP: INDC concept for all countries 19th COP in Warsaw (2013): All countries required to prepare INDCs and present them before COP 21 in Paris. |
20th COP in Lima (2014): Further clarity on form of INDC: not mitigation centric and can include other components as per country priorities. |
21st COP In Paris (2015): COP 21 highlights the importance of pre-2020 mitigation ambition and enhancing the provision of finance technology and capacity building support by developing countries. |
22nd COP Marrakesh (2016): Facilitative Dialogue on enhancing ambition and support held to discuss enhancement of pre-2020 ambition and provision of means of implementation. |
23rd COP Bonn (2017): The conference was held to further the provisions of the Paris Agreement and the key topics were related to financial support, mitigation action, differentiation, and loss and damage. |
24th COP Katowice (2018): This Conference was held from 2-15 December 2018 in Katowice, Poland. The conference agreed on rules to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement. |
25th COP Chile (2019): The session is expected to take place from 11-22 November 2019 in Chile, with a pre-COP meeting taking place in Costa Rica. |
Government Actions to deal with Climate Change
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement
Implications of Climate Change Effects on Hazards and Vulnerability for Different Disaster Types, and their Impact/Relief Phase |
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Climate Change Impacts |
Hydro-met |
Ecological |
Chemical |
Geophysical Disasters |
Biological |
Aggravating |
Flooding, Drought, Cyclone, Windstorms, Heatwave, Coldwave, etc. |
Forest Fire, |
Fire, Explosion, Toxic release, radioactive release, etc. |
Earthquakes can trigger landslides, erosion, GLOF, LLOF, etc. |
Vector Bome, Water bome and allergic disease epidemics, Pandemic, etc. |
Increasing |
Degraded ecosystems, Altered hydrology, Poor natural defence, Lost socio-economic resilience |
Loss of moisture-increase fire weather, Green cover loss, change in climatic niche-alien species |
Shift in safety and process thresholds, Climate stress on operability, Altered atmospheric features |
Change in vegetation regime, Change in ‘albedo’, Glacial and ice melting, Change in drainage |
Change in climage niche-vectors/pathogens. Loss of socio-economic resilience and health resources |
Disaster Impacts/Relief Phase |
Shelter, water-sanitation, waste and environment-health issues. Effect on ecosystems and natural resources |
Soil contamination, Risk of pests and diseases, Effect on boidiversity, drainage and ecosystems |
Local climatic changes, Effects on ecosystem services and community livelihoods |
Landscape alterations, Effect on ecosystems, geo-systems and natural resources |
Shelter, water-sanitation, waste and environmental-health issues, Loss of human capital for natural resources |
India’s first NDC includes commitments
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Institutes