Know more about the eight initiatives that make up India’s tools for fighting climate change.
“Sustainability is a global issue, yada yada yada…” Yeah. We know you know. From Greta Thunberg’s powerful speech at the UN to the 2016 Paris Agreement, every step counts – big or small. The solidification of the UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (the father organization of the Paris Agreement) made it clear that all countries had to step up their climate action game ASAP.
A ticking time bomb awaits for all its participating nations to prevent the average temperature from rising beyond 2 degree Celsius as per the contract [1]. As per the latest reports by UN’s IPCC(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), “Climate change is already affecting every inhabited region across the globe with human influence contributing to many observed changes in weather and climate extremes.” [6]
India’s fight with climate change
Naturally (and proudly so), India ratified the Paris treaty, thereby becoming one of 197 nations contributing in tackling the climate issue [2].
Hold your horses there! What about India’s independent climate and sustainability initiatives to reduce our country’s overall impact? Say hello to NAPCC – the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
Say what?
You heard it right. Released in June 2008, India’s NAPCC is a wide range of eight missions created with the aim of raising awareness and mitigating the hazards of climate change (3). It includes long term goals to regulate and implement sustainable development goals to achieve national growth while being climate sensitive.This set of missions includes the following.
1. National Solar Mission
Launched in 2010, the National Solar Mission’s main focus is to increase the country’s use of solar energy. Its definitive goal includes reaching a point of parity between the cost of solar and thermal energy by 2022 while making it more affordable and accessible for public use, especially in electricity-starved parts of the country.
2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
Solidified in 2009 and governed by the Ministry of Power, the mission’s main goal is to improve energy efficiency as a whole and make it more cleaner and affordable to use while promoting more energy-efficient products.
3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
Approved in 2011, the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat aims at creating sustainable and climate-friendly cities to make the country a more “sustainable habitat”. The idea is to enforce green laws that mitigate climate change and ensure smooth functioning of systems such as adequate waste management, public facilities, urban planning and design and the works.
4. National Water Mission
It’s safe to say that rivers are the heart of our nation and this mission seeks to control and reduce water wastage, distribute equally across the country and increase overall efficiency in use. It aims to assess areas that are water-deficient, over-exploited and find innovative methods of water extraction and desalination.
Need to get the basics right, don’t we?
5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
Hello Himalayas! This mountain range is a structure of national pride and this mission aims to maintain its gloss. Focus areas include understanding the impact of the range to our climate and geography, maintaining its ecosystem and preserving its rich biodiversity and wildlife.
6. National Mission for a Green India
As the name suggests, this mission aims to preserve and enhance India’s “green” cover – aka our forests, already diminishing at a rapid rate. Activities include afforestation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving our biodiversity, etc.
7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
Agriculture makes up to two thirds of the country’s livelihood and this mission’s focus is to enhance India’s agricultural practices and make it climate-change resistant. This includes a mix of old and newer techniques, biotechnology, methods of rainwater harvesting, organic farming, micro-irrigation and using new crop and pesticide varieties.
8. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
Knowledge is power and this mission aims to improve the country’s overall knowledge and research on fighting climate change while maintaining high national growth [5].
To wrap it up
Change is happening and missions have been put up (with good intentions), but it is only with efficient implementation that we can see results. Fingers crossed, eh?
Thoughts?
List of References
- The Paris Agreement, UNFCC. Accessed August 11, 2021.
- Denchak,M. 2021. Paris Climate Agreement: Everything you need to know | NRDC. Accessed August 11, 2021.
- Climate Change Program, Ministry of Science and Technology.. Accessed August 11, 2021.
- India Today Web Desk, 2018, 8 govt missions under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) designed to heal India. Accessed August 11, 2021.
- National Action Plan on Climate Change, 2019, Dhristi. Accessed on August 11, 2021 from. Accessed August 11, 2021.
- Summary for Policymakers, 2021, The Intergovernmental Policy on Climate Change. Accessed August 13, 2021.
