**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to a question raised in Lok Sabha regarding the Tamil Nadu State Action Plan on Climate Change. The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses the Government's efforts to combat climate change, including support for Tamil Nadu through various programs and schemes, and mentions the date the question was originally scheduled to be answered (09.02.2026). The response highlights coordination mechanisms and support provided for climate resilience in Tamil Nadu.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National and State Action Plans:**
* The government is committed to combating climate change via the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which includes missions focused on various areas (solar energy, water, sustainable agriculture, etc.)
* Tamil Nadu has prepared its State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with the NAPCC, tailored to State-specific climate change issues.
* **Tamil Nadu State Climate Change Cell:**
* The Department of Science and Technology (DST) established the Tamil Nadu State Climate Change Cell to assist the State with vulnerability/risk assessments, capacity building, and public awareness.
* The DST supports a Center of Excellence at IIT Madras, which studies climate change impacts on coastal infrastructure.
* **Tamil Nadu State Action Plan 2.0 (2022-2030):**
* Outlines measures to promote renewable energy, enhance energy efficiency, and support low-carbon development.
* The Green Tamil Nadu Mission strengthens carbon sinks via native plantation and sustainable mobility.
* Adaptation efforts focus on ecosystem resilience, coastal restoration, mangrove/wetland conservation, and climate-resilient agriculture.
* **Financial and Technical Support:**
* Support is provided to Tamil Nadu for climate-resilient agriculture, water resource management, and coastal protection measures under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).
* Projects worth over Rs 48 crore have been supported in several districts and rainfed watersheds.
* **Water Resource Management:**
* Various important schemes are implemented to address climate change impacts on water resources, including the Namami Gange Programme and the National Water Mission.
* The Central Ground Water Board has established a climate change monitoring network in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.
* **Coordination and Awareness:**
* Climate resilience efforts are coordinated across multiple Ministries, State Departments, research institutions, and local bodies, including Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company Missions.
* Public awareness is promoted through National Green Corps, Information Education and Communication activities, and stakeholder training programs.
* **Agricultural Assessment:**
* Climate-vulnerability assessments have been conducted in various agricultural districts under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA).
**Impact Analysis**
* **Tamil Nadu Government/State Agencies:**
* *Impact:* Receives technical and financial support to implement climate change action plans and projects. Needs to coordinate climate resilience efforts across multiple departments and local bodies.
* *Action Required:* Implement the SAPCC, collaborate with DST, and utilize funds effectively to address climate change impacts.
* **Tamil Nadu Communities:**
* *Impact:* Vulnerable communities will be climate-proofed through coastal restoration, mangrove and wetland conservation, and climate-resilient agriculture.
* *Action Required:* Participate in awareness programs, adapt to climate-resilient practices, and engage with government initiatives.
* **Ministries and Departments (Government of India):**
* *Impact:* Required to coordinate climate resilience efforts and provide support through various schemes and programs.
* *Action Required:* Collaborate with State governments, implement relevant programs, and monitor the progress of climate action plans.
* **Research Institutions (e.g., IIT Madras):**
* *Impact:* Contribute to developing climate change impact models and adaptation strategies.
* *Action Required:* Continue research efforts and provide technical expertise to support government initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): A national plan comprising missions to address climate change in India.
Tamil Nadu State Action Plan on Climate Change (TNSAPCC): A state-level action plan aligned with the NAPCC, addressing Tamil Nadu's specific climate change issues.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central government ministry responsible for environment, forest and climate change policies in India.
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change (NMSKCC): A mission under the NAPCC focused on generating strategic knowledge for climate change.
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): A scheme to conduct climate resilient agriculture.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1551
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Tamil Nadu State Action Plan on Climate Change
1551. MS. S JOTHIMANI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any region-specific assessments on the impact of
climate change in Tamil Nadu, including rising temperatures, irregular monsoons, extreme
weather events and sea-level rise and if so, the key findings thereof;
(b) the steps being taken under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and the
Tamil Nadu State Action Plan on Climate Change (TNSAPCC) to mitigate and adapt to
these impacts;
(c) whether the Government has provided financial or technical support to Tamil Nadu for
implementing climate-resilient agriculture, water resource management and coastal
protection measures;
(d) whether any districts in Tamil Nadu have been identified as climate-vulnerable or climate-
stressed zones and the special interventions planned for these areas; and
(e) whether the Government is coordinating with other departments to ensure an integrated and
people-centric climate resilience strategy and if so, the details of such coordination
mechanisms?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) The Government stands committed to combat climate change through its several
programmes and schemes, including the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC),
which comprises missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, sustainable
agriculture, health, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, green India, and strategic
knowledge for climate change. Thirty-six States/Union Territories including Tamil Nadu have
prepared their State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) in line with the NAPCC, taking into
account State-specific climate change issues.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has established Tamil Nadu State Climate
Change Cell under the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change (NMSKCC)
of National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), to assist the State in undertaking
vulnerability and risk assessments, human capacity-building programmes, public awareness
programmes, and institutional capacity building. Further, DST supported Center of Excellence at
the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, on ‘Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Infrastructure
and Adaptation Strategies’, which has developed various numerical models to study the impact of
climate change on the climate systems of the coastal areas. In addition, climate-vulnerabilityassessment for agricultural districts such as Dharmapuri, Villupuram, Coimbatore, Perambalur and
Ramanathapuram have been conducted under National Innovations in Climate Resilient
Agriculture (NICRA).
Tamil Nadu State Action Plan on Climate Change (TNSAPCC) and TNSAPCC 2.0 (2022–2030)
outlines ambitious measures to promote renewable energy, enhance energy efficiency, and support
low-carbon development. Green Tamil Nadu Mission aims at strengthening of carbon sinks
through large-scale native plantation and sustainable mobility. Adaptation efforts focus on
strengthening ecosystem resilience and climate-proofing vulnerable communities through coastal
restoration, mangrove and wetland conservation, and climate-resilient agriculture with water-
efficient practices.
Financial and technical support to Tamil Nadu for implementing climate-resilient agriculture,
water resource management and coastal protection measures is provided under National
Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) and projects worth over Rs 48 crore have been
supported in the Gulf of Mannar, Tuticorin, Ramand, Kanyakumari, Thirunelveli, and rainfed
watersheds in Salem and Virudhnagar districts.
With respect to water resources management, various important schemes are implemented in India
to address climate change impacts that include – Namami Gange Programme, National Water
Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, Atal Bhujal Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi
Sinchayi Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme etc.
Moreover, Central Ground Water Board has established a climate change monitoring network in
the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.
Climate resilience efforts are coordinated across multiple Ministries, State Departments, research
institutions, and local bodies. Mechanisms include the SAPCC framework, Tamil Nadu Green
Climate Company Missions (Wetland, Coastal Restoration, Climate Change and Green Tamil
Nadu Missions), National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) for
climate and health integration, and community-based initiatives. Public awareness is promoted
through National Green Corps, Information Education and Communication activities, eco-clubs,
Green Fellows, and stakeholder training programmes, ensuring a whole-of-government and
people-centric approach.
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