National Action Plan on Climate Change

The National Action Plan on Climate Change is an integration of many statutory plans. It is an amalgamation of eight missions, each of which caters to the improvement of national prospects. The plan seeks to create awareness among the representatives of the public, governmental agencies, scientists, industries and the community as a whole on the threat posed by climate change and the measures proposed by India to counter them. It was introduced back in 2008 to emphasize the overriding priority of maintaining high economic growth rate to raise the standards of living. Recognizing climate change as a global challenge, the Plan ensures that India will actively partake in multilateral negotiations in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This article explores the scope of the Plan.

Guiding Principles

Inclusive and sustainable development strategy for protecting the poor.
Qualitative change in the method through which the national growth objectives will be met. In other words, enhancing ecological sustainability.
Cost-effective strategies for end-use demand side management.
Deployment of suitable technologies for extensive and accelerated adaptation, and mitigation of greenhouse gases.
Innovative market, regulatory and voluntary mechanisms in promoting Sustainable Development.
Implementation through linkages with civil society, local governments and public-private partnerships.
International cooperation, transfer of technology and funding.

National Missions

The following missions fall under the umbrella of the Action Plan:

National Solar Mission

The Plan seeks to promote the development and usage of solar energy for power generation and other purposes with the object of making solar competitive with fossil-based energy options. It is aimed at:

Enhancing the use of solar thermal technologies in urban areas, industry, and commercial establishments.
Increasing the production of photovoltaics to 1000 MW/year.
Deploying a minimum of 1000 MW of solar thermal power generation.
Establishing a solar research centre.
Increasing international collaboration on technology development.
Strengthening of domestic manufacturing capacity.
Increasing the scope of government funding and international support.

The initiative was introduced in the year 2010 to promote the use of solar power.

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

The initiative was introduced for promoting the market for energy efficiency by fostering innovative policies and effective market instruments. It recommends:

Mandating specific energy consumption decreases in large energy-consuming industries, with a system for companies to trade energy-savings certificates.
Energy incentives such as the reduction of taxes on energy-efficient appliances.
Funding public-private partnerships in reducing energy consumption through demand-side management programs in the municipal, buildings and agricultural sectors.

National Mission on Sustainable Habitat

Backed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, this initiative aims at making cities sustainable by improving energy efficiency in buildings and managing solid waste. Its objectives include:

Extending the existing Energy Conservation Building Code.
Focusing attention on urban waste management and recycling, including power production from waste.
Strengthening the enforcement of automotive fuel economy standards and employing price measures to encourage the procurement of efficient vehicles.
Incentivizing the use of public transportation.

National Water Mission

The mission was introduced to ensure integrated water management, thereby enabling water conservation, minimization of wastage, and equitable distribution. It is backed by the National Water Policy as well as by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem

Introduced in 2014, the mission seeks to protect the Himalayan ecosystem by conserving biodiversity, forest cover, and other ecological values in the Himalayan region. It has mapped institutes and civil society organizations working on the Himalayan ecology for easing coordination between governmental and non-governmental agencies.

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture has been introduced for enhancing agricultural productivity, particularly in rain-fed areas. Its area of focus includes integrated farming, water efficiency, soil health management and synergizing resource conservation.

National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

This mission envisages the creation of a dynamic and vibrant knowledge system that informs and supports national policy and action for responding effectively to challenges posed by climate change, without affecting the growth goals of the nation. Also Read On - Climate Resilience Building Among Farmers