Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has outlined measures to protect forest cover, promote sustainable development, and tackle climate change impacts. These measures include flagship schemes, public participation initiatives, and national programs for air quality improvement and climate action. India aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 through a long-term low-carbon development strategy.
Key Points / Main Content:
Forest Cover and Ecological Restoration:
* MoEFCC implements schemes like the National Mission for a Green India, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, CAMPA, Nagar Van Yojana, MISHTI, and NCAP to support ecological restoration through afforestation, habitat improvement, and biodiversity protection.
* The "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign encourages public participation in afforestation.
* India's forest and tree cover has increased, covering 25.17% of the country's area, with a carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent created between 2005 and 2021.
Air Quality Improvement:
* The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in January 2019, targets air quality improvement in 130 non-attainment cities.
* NCAP is a multisectoral initiative involving central and state governments, ULBs, and other stakeholders, with a performance-based grant of ₹13,036.52 crore allocated to cities for implementation.
Climate Change Action Plans:
* The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) includes nine Missions, with six focused on adaptation in various sectors, implemented by respective Nodal Ministries and Departments.
* Thirty-four States and UTs have prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) tailored to their ecological, social, and economic conditions.
* The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) supports adaptation activities in vulnerable States and UTs.
Low-Carbon Development:
* India's GDP emission intensity reduced by 36% between 2005 and 2020.
* India's Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy aims for net-zero emissions by 2070 through seven key strategic transitions, emphasizing equity and climate justice.
Impact Analysis:
Central and State Governments, ULBs:
* Impact: Required to implement and support the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs). They receive funding and guidance from the central government.
* Action Required: Develop and execute city, state, and national-level action plans, mobilize resources, and implement air quality measures.
Citizens:
* Impact: Benefit from improved air quality, increased forest cover, and climate change adaptation measures.
* Action Required: Participate in afforestation efforts like the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign and support sustainable development practices.
Nodal Ministries and Departments:
* Impact: Responsible for institutionalizing and implementing the Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
* Action Required: Develop and implement strategies to combat the adverse impacts of climate change in their respective sectors.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies. Also referred to as MoEFCC.
National Mission for a Green India: A flagship scheme implemented by MoEFCC focused on ecological restoration and afforestation.
National Clean Air Programme NCAP: A programme launched by MoEFCC in January 2019, targeting air quality improvement in 130 non-attainment and Million Plus Cities across 24 States and Union Territories.
National Action Plan on Climate Change NAPCC: A plan developed by the Government of India comprising Missions in specific areas to combat the adverse impacts of climate change.
State Action Plans on Climate Change SAPCCs: Plans prepared by thirty-four States and Union Territories, designed to be context-specific and provide adaptation strategies considering each State's different ecological, social, and economic conditions.
National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change NAFCC: A fund established to support adaptation activities in the States and UTs that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund CAF: A fund under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) to facilitate afforestation and related activities.
Nagar Van Yojana: A scheme implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to create urban forests.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1182
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Impact of Climate Change
1182. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that increasing deforestation, air pollution, and
erratic climate patterns are affecting public health, agriculture, and local livelihoods;
(b) if so, the measures being taken to protect forest cover, promote sustainable
development, and tackle the impact of climate change at the community level; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) The Government has taken a number of steps to protect forest cover,
promote sustainable development, and tackle the impact of climate change
which include the following:
(i) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC) implements a range of flagship schemes and
programmes, including the National Mission for a Green India,
Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, Compensatory
Afforestation Fund (CAF) under the Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority
(CAMPA), Nagar Van Yojana, Mangrove Initiative for
Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI), and the
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). These initiatives
support the efforts of States and Union Territories in ecological
restoration through afforestation within and outside forest areas,
forest landscape restoration, habitat improvement, soil and water
conservation measures, and biodiversity protection.
(ii) To foster public participation in afforestation, the Ministry has
also launched the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" campaign. This
initiative encourages individuals to plant a tree in honour of
their mothers, promoting emotional connection with nature. It
serves as a symbolic gesture of gratitude while strengthening
community involvement in environmental conservation.(iii) India’s forest and tree cover has shown a consistent increase,
currently covering 25.17% of the country’s total geographical
area. Between 2005 and 2021, an additional carbon sink of 2.29
billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent has been created, significantly
contributing to the country’s climate change mitigation goals.
(iv) The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched by
MoEF&CC in January 2019, targets air quality improvement in
130 non-attainment and Million Plus Cities across 24
States/UTs. It is a multi-sectoral initiative involving Central and
State Governments, ULBs, and other stakeholders. NCAP
emphasizes source-specific mitigation through city, state, and
national-level action plans. It mobilizes resources from various
Central schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT, Smart
City Mission, and others, along with state and local support. A
performance-based grant of ₹13,036.52 crore has been allocated
to 130 cities/ULBs for implementing air quality measures.
(v) The Government of India has developed the National Action
Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which comprises Missions
in specific areas. Six out of nine Missions under NAPCC focus
on adaptation in water, habitat, agriculture, the Himalayan
ecosystem, human health, and strategic knowledge of climate
change. All these Missions focus on strategies to combat the
adverse impacts of climate change, and, are institutionalized
andimplemented by the respective Nodal Ministries/
Departments. Further, thirty-four States and UTs have prepared
their respective State Action Plans on Climate Change
(SAPCCs). The SAPCCs are designed to be context specific,
and inter-alia, provide adaptation strategies considering each
State's different ecological, social, and economic conditions.
(vi) The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC)
has been established to support adaptation activities in the States
and UTs that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate
change.
(vii) India has progressively continued decoupling economic growth
from Green House Gas emissions.Between 2005 and 2020,
India’s gross domestic product emission intensity reducedby
36%.
(viii) India’s Long Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy provides
a framework involving seven key strategic transitions for
achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, based on the principles of
common but differentiated responsibilities and respective
capabilities, equity, and climate justice. These include:
- low-carbon development of electricity systems
consistent with development;
- develop an integrated, efficient and inclusive transport
system;
- promote adaptation in urban design, energy and material
efficiency in buildings, and sustainable urbanization;
- promoting economy-wide decoupling of growth fromemissions and development of an efficient, innovative
low emission industrial system;
- development of carbon dioxide removal and related
engineering solutions;
- enhancing forest and vegetation cover consistent with
socio-economic and ecological considerations;and
- economic and financial needs of low-carbon
development.
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