Ministry wise Highlights on Climate Change
Climate Change & Meteorology
Highlights of 2015
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
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“We trust & believe in you to ensure the best”: School children to Environment Minister (27-Nov-2015:07:33:58)
“World needs to allow development space and growth space to developing countries like India”: Javadekar
In a unique gesture, around 50 school children extended good wishes to the Indian delegation for Conference of Parties (COP21) - the global climate conference here today. The children presented a symbolic ‘Globe’ to the Environment Minister, who is heading the delegation for Paris with the message, “We Trust and Believe in You to ensure the Best”. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, said that India is going to Paris with a progressive and a constructive approach. “The world needs to allow development space and growth space to developing countries like India. If we grow, justice will be delivered to the poor. If we grow, the market and world economy will grow and to that end, there will be more accommodation for the developing world in Paris”, he said.
Shri Javadekar added that we are hopeful that there will be a “just and an equitable” agreement in Paris. He emphasized that India has taken positive steps under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, not only in renewable energy, but in clean environment, clean energy, clean water, clean air and more green. The Minister also said that the world has appreciated India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC).
The Minister also told the children that the world must assure the younger generation that the world will be proposing those changes that are needed to ensure balanced growth and a balanced environment.
COP21 will start in Paris from November 30-December 11, 2015. The objective of the Paris Conference is to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, from all nations of the world.
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Union Ministers Javadekar, Piyush Goyal to Participate in Talkathon tomorrow
(26-Nov-2015:03:30:09)
Ministers to Interact Directly with Netizens
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar and Union Minister for Power, Coal and New Renewable Energy, Shri Piyush Goyal will interact with the Twitterati through a “Talkathon” here tomorrow from 5 pm onwards. The ‘Live’, interactive session will last for about an hour. The netizens can ask questions pertaining to India’s participation in the upcoming COP-21 to be held at Paris. Users may use the hashtag #AskonCOP21 to post their queries to the Twitter handle of the Ministry @MIB_India. The speakers will reply to the queries posted on Twitter in real time. The event will be webcast LIVE on the YouTube channel of the Ministry – www.youtube.com/inbministry and on the Youtube channel of Doordarshan - www.youtube.com/DDNewsofficial, as well as telecast on DD News. The event can also be accessed online from www.youtube.com/pibindia; www.youtube.com/channel/UCTJpJk8bqQQEqeX58z8eimA;www.youtube.com/PiyushGoyalBJP; www.youtube.com/PrakashJavadekar.
Talkathon is an initiative that connects the virtual space with the physical world. Under the platform, participants in the social media space can post questions on Twitter, which will be answered by the guests in real-time.
The previous editions of Talkathon have seen the participation of three Union Ministers, Minister for Human Resource Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy, Shri Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State (I/C) for Commerce and Industry, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman on the completion of one year of the Government. Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley and Union Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu have also utilized this platform, soon after presenting their respective budgets earlier this year to connect with the people directly. In the first two instances, the respective hashtags (#AskyourGovt and #AskFM) trended at Number 1 position. Recently, Ministry of I&B also conducted a Talkathon on the new Black Money Law, with the Revenue Secretary, Shri Shaktikanta Das and CBDT chairperson, Ms. Anita Kapur, besides conducting a series of Talkathons on the sidelines of International Film Festival of India, 2015, which saw participation of various national and internationally acclaimed actors, producers and directors.
The current edition of Talkathon is a collaborative effort of the New Media Wing, Press Information Bureau and Doordarshan News under the aegis of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
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India and France discuss the upcoming session of 21st Conference of Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(20-Nov-2015:08:07:28)
A bilateral meeting was held here today between India and France under the leadership of Minister, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of France Shri Laurent Fabius to discuss the upcoming session of 21st Conference of Parties (COP-21) to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held from 30 November 2015 to 11 December 2015 in Paris, France.
The Visiting French Foreign Minister said that India is a very important player in the upcoming climate change negotiations and France expects India to take a leadership role in successful outcome of Paris agreement. He also appreciated India’s efforts towards launching a Global Solar Alliance on 30th November 2015 at Paris.
The leaders of both the delegations held a detailed discussion on various key issues on negotiating table and assured each other of developing key bridging proposals on major issues. They hoped to achieve convergence on all the key issues.
Both leaders agreed to work for an equitable, pragmatic, comprehensive and ambitious agreement based on the principles of Convention of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR&RC).
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Environment Minister Launches New Website on Climate Change
(12-Nov-2015:06:17:51)
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar has launched a new website – www.justclimateaction.org. Launching the website in Pune today, Shri Prakash Javadekar said that the website has been created especially for the purpose of putting up India’s stands and efforts till Paris Summit. “The website includes our Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), the appreciation received from the world over and comments on our INDCs”, he added. Shri Javadekar also said that India has taken firm steps under the leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
The website focuses on bringing transparency to the entire effort. As each stakeholder brings his activity to the fore to take a billion-strong people into confidence, the website and associated social media infrastructure ensures that each citizen in the country becomes a votary for a better future.
The website brings most of its content in the form of videos that can be shared on personal social media channels. Built on a ‘break away and play’ architecture, each page, story or section can be posted/shared by viewers anywhere in the world.
Salient features of our website
· It contains over 300 GB of data in films, reports and pictures. The thrust is to provide rich content in the form of short films to engage the audience and retain their interest in going through all the material presented;
· It hosts clippings from the speeches of the Prime Minister and Environment Minister, outlining the various initiatives to curb climate change;
· Over 30 films on various climate change initiatives undertaken by the government and private sectors have been indexed under seven different heads in the section ‘India’s Initiatives’;
· The aim is to display over 100 films, sourced from various arms of the government and social sector archives in the coming week;
· The website offers an integrated platform to all social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter etc. It contains links to, tracks and displays the social media channels in real time;
· Designed to reach out to the whole of India, the device neutral platform enables browsing from all devices, including mobile phones;
· The INDC documents have been uploaded in full and specialized parts for convenience of users;
· The FAQ section provides comprehensive answers to all questions on India’s stance and initiative, raised by media personnel from across the world till date;
· The site also provides links to activities and initiatives of all ministries related to climate change;
· A coordinated plan with the Ministry of External Affairs is being worked out for joint promotion of the website to all foreign viewers in the run-up to CoP21.
There are six links at the top band of the website. The first link is on India’s INDCs. The link on Science Express takes the visitor to the respective website of the initiative. The reports section currently displays links to 4 reports published by the Ministry and also the Earth Overshoot Report by the Global Footprint Network. The fourth one is a collection of videos on India’s initiatives and goes by the same name. The Event link on the title bar will be a showcase of all the proposed side events at the India Pavilion of CoP21. The Media Centre will act as an integrated resource pool for journalists from around the world. Apart from these, there are links to FAQs, Contact etc.
The modular layout of the homepage will enable showcasing of all the latest news as new boxes on the home page. The moving ticker at the top can also list news as they come in. The current ticker starts with the PM’s message and goes on to show four other messages.
The website is an aggregator of projects of over thirty ministries and agencies that can influence and curb India’s carbon emissions. Designed to be a participative website, it aims to take along the people of the country to a greener future.
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“Keep Paris Simple; Post-2020 Finance Fundamental to Success of Paris”: Javadekar
(10-Nov-2015:05:41:16)
Environment Minister’s Intervention at the Closing Plenary Session of Pre-Cop 21 at Paris
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, has reiterated the need to keep Paris simple. Making an Intervention at the closing plenary session of pre-CoP 21 at Paris today, Shri Javadekar said that though Paris Agreement has to be ambitious, the ambition should not be unrealistic. He pointed out that that the crucial question of post-2020 finance is fundamental to the success of Paris.
The Minister said that pre-2020 actions are the key to build trust among parties. He also said that there can be no Action Holiday in the pre-2020 period. Shri Javadekar also stressed that the Paris decision on pre-2020 actions should incorporate elements of ambitious mitigation actions by developed countries and enhanced support to the developing countries to enable them to take affirmative climate action. He added that the commitment to provide finance by developed countries is based on their historical responsibilities and economic capacities.
The following is the text of the Environment Minister’s Intervention at the closing plenary session of pre-CoP 21 at Paris:
“Excellencies….,
I join others in complementing Foreign Minister Fabius and his team in organizing the pre-CoP in a structured manner, focusing on some of the key issues, on which parties have to come to a common understanding.
We are all aware of the enormity of the task that is before us and time is clearly not on our side. We cannot, therefore, afford to complicate Paris and as I have said umpteen number of times, we should keep Paris simple.
To us, Paris will be a good beginning, for enhancing our actions under the convention, and there will be life after Paris. We should therefore not try to solve every issue, including technical details in Paris, but leave it for the following CoPs.
I found the discussions in the Working Groups useful, but we still seem to be a little away from convergences, which we should expect now. While we may all yearn for convergences, it may not be so easy.
To us, the more we structure our work and ideas around the framework convention, the more will be the chances to arrive at convergences. We still believe and would like to believe that the Paris agreement is to enhance the implementation of the convention and not to create a new distinct regime.
On the specific issues discussed yesterday; I agree with the summary of the discussions presented by the Moderators and would like to complement them for their efforts in guiding the discussions.
We are pleased to hear an unequivocal support for the Paris agreement to be based on equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR & RC); but how we operationalise it, is a matter on which we need to further work upon.
We were also happy to see a broad support for Differentiation to be reflected across all core elements; however how it is to be reflected is an issue on which we need to further discuss and negotiate in coming weeks.
On the issue of Ambition, I think we all agree that the Paris Agreement has to be ambitious and the contributions have to be progressively ambitious. But at the same time, ambition applies to all elements, and not to mitigation alone. While Ambition is the key to success of our efforts to combat Climate Change, I would as I have often cautioned, not to be unrealistic in our Ambition. We also need to see Ambition in the context of our developmental imperatives, which is so essential for developing countries.
Pre-2020 actions are key to building trust among parties and precursor to enhanced efforts in post-2020 period. We strongly believe that there can be no Action Holiday in the pre-2020 period and the Paris decision on the pre-2020 actions should incorporate elements of ambitious mitigation actions by developed countries and enhanced support to developing countries to enable them to take affirmative Climate action.
Lastly, I come to the crucial question of post-2020 Finance. This, to our understanding, is fundamental to the success of Paris and has been recognized so, even by President Hollande.
While post-2020 Finance has to be predictable and scaled up from USD 100 Billion onwards, we do not want to see a change in the very paradigm in which finance has been talked about in the Convention. The commitment to provide finance by developed countries is based on their historical responsibilities and not only on their economic capacities.
Any attempts, therefore, to enlarge the donor base by ‘countries in a position to do so’ or ‘countries willing to do so’, will not be appropriate from our perspective. To us, the enlarging of donor base and shrinking of recipient base will amount to tinkering with the basic rubric of the Convention and that is, clearly, not what we intend to do.
In conclusion, I feel that while we may not have been able to arrive at convergences on these key issues which we would have very much liked to, we do at least have much more clarity on the issues discussed which I am sure would help in our negotiations in the CoP.”
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Environment Ministry Launches New Website on National Clean Development Mechanism Authority
(02-Nov-2015:11:11:37)
A new website - http://www.ncdmaindia.gov.in has been launched by the National Clean Development Mechanism Authority (NCDMA) in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The new website, launched last Friday, will capture the entire life cycle of CDM Projects. With step, the Ministry has taken another step in applying the principles of e-governance.
The on-line uploading of project related information in a module wise pattern will help to capture the entire life cycle of CDM projects. It will also enable monitoring of the projects at different stages. This web-based application will promote transparency in operation and monitor sustainable development activities relating to the CDM projects in the country. It will be the first such web-based application developed globally in this direction.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Ashok Lavasa, appreciated the initiative to further streamline the working of India’s National CDM Authority. The NCDMA is reckoned as one of the most efficient and pro-active Designated National Authority (DNA).
Shri Lavasa recalled that the National Clean Development Mechanism Authority (NCDMA) was established in December 2003 for according Host Country Approval (HCA) to the CDM projects. Till April 30, 2015, it has accorded HCA to 2, 941 projects facilitating possible investment of about Rs. 579,306 crores in the country. These projects are in sectors of energy efficiency, fuel switching, industrial processes, municipal solid waste, renewable energy and forestry which spread across the country (covering all states in India). As on 24th April 2015, 1, 564 out of a total of 7,629 projects registered by the CDM Executive Board are from India, which is the second highest in the world. Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) issued to Indian projects is 191 million (13.27%).
Since the inception of NCDMA, it used to approve projects based on the submission of hard copies of all documents. In July 2010, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, with the help of GIZ, developed the existing website (http://cdmindia.gov.in/admin/) to reduce the processing time and large-scale usage of papers to automate the project data submission process and started paperless operation partly, in July 2010.
Later, the Government mandated large-scale CDM projects to commit and earmark 2% of revenue generated from the sale of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) to support sustainable development activities for the local communities. However, the existing framework does not have the requisite information and also lacks information on the status of the registered/ unregistered projects accorded Host Country Approval. Thus, to improve the functionality of the Designated National Authority (DNA), it was decided by the Members of the NCDMA to capture the entire lifecycle of the CDM projects and also have provision to monitor the commitment of the project proponents for sharing of 2% of the CERs revenue.
The new website has been designed and developed with the help of GIZ. This MIS is a web-based collation and monitoring tool functioning in a module-wise manner. It will capture all information provided by the project proponents in various modules starting from user registration, prior intimation, submission of projects, host country approval, validation, registration, issuance and Transaction of CERs. Based on the submission, it will undergo approval workflow, documenting all events relating to host country approval; NCDMA meetings, Issuance of Letter of Authority. The reporting module will generate various reports displaying the status of projects.
Shri Lavasa also said that in the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2013-2020), the number of CDM projects has come down drastically. In comparison, it may be seen that in 2012, there were 3, 227 projects registered with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in 2013, it was reduced to 307 projects. In 2014 it was further reduced to 158 projects and in 2015 it is only 47 projects registered so far. Interestingly, in 2013, India has registered 115 projects, which are the highest by any country. Last year, the NCDMA has accorded Host Country Approval to 76 projects and India registered 56 projects with UNFCCC in 2014. Thus, keeping a futuristic view, this website may help DNA to prepare for the future market mechanisms evolving under the UNFCCC.
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Ministers of Basic Issue Joint Statement, Express Unequivocal Commitment to a Successful Outcome at Paris Through a Transparent, Inclusive Process
(31-Oct-2015:08:30:53)
India Offers to Hold 22nd Basic Meeting in 2016
As the Ministers at the 21st BASIC meeting in Beijing made a thorough analysis of current climate change politics, they expressed their unequivocal commitment towards a successful outcome at the Paris Climate Change Conference through a transparent, inclusive and Party-driven process. The Ministers underlined the need for accelerating the textual negotiation on the basis of the revised non-paper of 23 October 2015, given the limited amount of negotiating time left.
The Ministers reiterated their commitment to work together constructively with other Parties on all issues to reach an equitable, ambitious, comprehensive, balanced and durable Paris agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that enhances the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention, in order to achieve the objective of the Convention as set out in its Article 2, and not to create a regime distinct from the Convention. The Paris agreement shall be in full accordance with its principles and provisions, in particular the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Differentiation between developed and developing countries should be reflected in each element of the agreement.
The Ministers reiterated that developed countries must take the lead in the post-2020 period, by committing and implementing ambitious, economy-wide, absolute quantified emission reduction targets. On their part, developing countries will enhance their different types of mitigation efforts.
Ministers of the BASIC grouping stressed the equal importance of adaptation and mitigation in the agreement. Collective commitments must confirm that adaptation is a global responsibility. The Paris agreement should ensure the provision of adequate international support to developing countries, based on their needs and costs of adaptation. This should include support for enhanced adaptation plans, policies, programmes and actions of developing countries.
The BASIC Ministers emphasized that developed countries must provide financial resources, technology development and transfer and capacity-building support to developing countries for their ambitious mitigation and adaptation actions under the Paris agreement, including in particular through periodically formulating, communicating and implementing their forward-looking targets, strategies, plans and policies on financial support, in order to progressively and substantially scale up their support in the post-2020 period, with USD 100 billion per year as a starting point. Public financial resources, distinct from ODA, should be the main source and funds from the private sectors can be complementary.
The Ministers underscored the need for technology development and transfer to developing countries. The Paris agreement should provide for strengthening the existing technology mechanism, with a view to promoting cooperation on research and development, demonstration and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies and know-how, in particular addressing the issue of intellectual property rights by creating a window under the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
The Ministers reaffirmed that the Paris agreement shall address in a balanced manner the core elements mandated by the Durban Platform, i.e., mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology development and transfer, capacity-building and transparency of action and support.
The Ministers emphasized the importance of holding the increase in average global temperature below 2°C related to pre-industrial levels, through enhanced mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation for both.
They affirmed that the Paris agreement should provide for Parties to regularly prepare, communicate and implement their enhanced commitments and actions in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention. Such an effort should represent a progression beyond the current undertaking of that Party.
BASIC Ministers further emphasized that contributions should be nationally determined and comprehensive, covering mitigation, adaptation and provision of support by developed countries to developing countries. Ministers also reaffirmed that ambition and progression should cover both action and support.
The Ministers emphasized that existing institutions and mechanisms created under the Convention on adaptation, loss and damage, finance and technology should be anchored and further strengthened in the Paris agreement.
The Ministers concurred that a post-2020 enhanced transparency system of action and support should be built on the existing differentiated arrangements under the Convention, while providing flexibility to developing countries. Such system should ensure that developed countries enhance the transparency of support by reporting their progress on provision of finance, technology and capacity-building support and provide support to developing countries for enhancing their capabilities on transparency of action and support received.
They supported the establishment of a global stocktaking of the overall implementation of the Paris agreement and progress towards achieving the objective of the Convention and the global temperature goal. The stocktaking should cover mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation in a comprehensive manner.
The Ministers noted with concern that pre-2020 ambition gaps exist not only in mitigation, but also in adaptation, finance, technology and capacity-building support to developing countries. They highlighted the need for increasing pre-2020 ambition by developed countries to build trust amongst Parties. They called for a strong, comprehensive and meaningful decision on pre-2020 ambition in Paris with a view to laying a solid foundation for post-2020 enhanced action.
The Ministers of the group urged developed countries to revisit and increase their emission reduction commitments under the Convention or the 2nd commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, in order to achieve at least 25%-40% below 1990 levels by 2020. Ministers further called on developed countries to honor their obligations to provide new, additional, predictable and adequate financial resources to developing countries in a measurable, reportable and verifiable manner, in particular defining a clear roadmap and pathway towards achieving their goal of providing USD 100 billion per year by 2020.
They urged those developed countries who have made pledges to the GCF to sign contribution agreements or arrangements as a matter of urgency. They also called on those developed countries to increase their contributions to the GCF, while acknowledging the pledges already made. They further urged developed countries that have not done so to make contributions to the GCF as soon as possible. They emphasized that the GCF should function under the guidance of and be accountable to the COP.
Notwithstanding the multiple challenges in terms of social and economic development and poverty eradication, BASIC countries, as developing countries, are undertaking robust actions domestically on climate change. They have further communicated their ambitious intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs). They urged developed countries to communicate their commitments on provision of support as early as possible to fulfill their obligations under the Convention.
The Ministers noted with appreciation the work done by the BASIC experts including on equity, differentiation, ambition, INDCs and finance, and requested them to continue their work.
The Ministers reaffirmed the commitment of BASIC, as developing countries, to the unity of Group of 77 and China, and highlighted the importance of cooperation among developing countries. They expressed their appreciation to South Africa for the leadership of the group. They voiced their support for further strengthening developing countries’ common positions in Paris through the Group of 77 and China.
The Ministers welcomed the offer by India to host the 22nd BASIC Ministerial Meeting in the first half of 2016.
The 21ssta BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change was held in Beijing on 30 and 31 October 2015. The meeting was attended by Mr. Xie Zhenhua, Special Representative for Climate Change of China, Ms. Izabella Teixeira, Minister for the Environment of Brazil, Mr. Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State (IC) of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of India and Ms. Judy Beaumont, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs as the representative of Ms. Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa. Mr. Zhang Gaoli, Vice Premier of the State Council of China, met with the representatives of the BASIC countries on 30 October 2015.
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India Hopes for an Equitable and just Climate Agreement in Paris, but Developed World will have to Walk the Talk: Javadekar
(26-Oct-2015:08:05:41)
Minister Announces a Contest, Invites Suggestions from People
India has said that it hopes for an equitable and just climate agreement in Paris, but the developed world will have to come out with more reasonable proposals. Interacting with netizens through ‘MyGov’ talk on Climate Change here today, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, said that India does not want Paris to fail. The Minister referred to French President, Mr. Francois Hollande’s statement that unless the developed world commits more finance and technological support, Paris can be a failure. “I think, with this warning, coming from the French President, who is the host, the developed world will come out with more reasonable proposals”, he added.
The Minister said that Paris is not raising questions about the actions of the developing world, but it is actually questioning the walking the talk by developed world. He also said that the developed world had pledged $100 billion (Green Climate Fund), but that has not materialised. “Now the developed world is presenting that they have mobilised $62 billion. But Shri Arun Jaitley was forthright in Lima by telling them that this was double accounting and that this was not acceptable. So we want additional, new predictable finance, which will be scaled up. I told the world that $100 billion is not the cost of climate action. The cost of climate action is trillions of dollars per annum”, Shri Javadekar said.
He said that India is walking the sustainable development path, but at the same time, we want more carbon space. The Minister said that we are talking about climate justice because though we are not a part of the problem, we are suffering. “We have 60 islands, other smaller island countries are suffering. Therefore, we want climate justice”, he stated.
Shri Javadekar also invited suggestions from people on various issues related to environment. He also announced that the best ideas will be rewarded not just with a cash prize, but also with a visit to a wildlife sanctuary. The modalities of the contest will be announced soon on MyGov platform.
The ‘MyGov’ talk was moderated by Shri Akhilesh Mishra, Director (Content), MyGov. The other panellists included Shri Sameer Saran, vice president, Observer Research Foundation and Shri Abhilash Khandekar, Dainik Bhaskar. Ms. Viva Kermani, a social media voice and Ms. Deeksha Katyal, a MyGov contributor, joined the talk via Google Hangout.
The ‘MyGov’ talk was held on the eve of the BASICS meeting in China. It is for the first time that a Union Minister has held a Google Hangout session on 'MyGov' platform.
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Javadekar to hold “MyGov Talk” coming Monday (23-Oct-2015:03:01:26)
Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar will hold a “MyGov Talk” on October 26, Monday, at 5.00 pm. The talk will focus on Climate Change in the run-up to the Conference of Parties (CoP) 21 in Paris from November 30-December 11, 2015. Contributors from MyGov, Climate Change experts, senior journalists and social media influencers will join the online panel discussion with Shri Javadekar. It is expected to be of 45-minutes duration and is being conducted in collaboration with Google India.
With India's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), the country is keen to attempt to work towards a low carbon emission pathway, while simultaneously endeavouring to meet all the developmental challenges that it faces today. The INDC aims at promoting clean energy, especially renewable energy, enhancement of energy efficiency, development of less carbon intensive and resilient urban centres, promotion of waste to wealth, safe, smart and sustainable green transportation network, abatement of pollution and India’s efforts to enhance carbon sink through creation of forest and tree cover.
Citizens are invited to share their ideas, questions and inputs on India’s role in CoP-21 and on the following proposals laid down by Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC):
Sustainable lifestyles,
Cleaner economic development,
Reduce emission intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP),
Increase the share of non-fossil fuel-based electricity,
Enhancing carbon sinks (forests),
Adaptation,
Mobilizing finance
Technology transfer and capacity building.
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Science Express Climate Action Special to be flagged off tomorrow
(14-Oct-2015:06:10:11)
The “Science Express”, redesigned as Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS), the innovative mobile science exhibition mounted on a 16 coach AC train, will be flagged off from Delhi’s Safderjung Railway Station at 12 noon tomorrow. The Express will be flagged off by the Union Ministers of the three partnering Ministries, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Minister of Railways, Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minster of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences and Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The Science Express intends to contribute towards increasing the understanding of the science of Climate Change, the observed and anticipated impacts and possible responses. The exhibition will convey a strong message about Climate Change and will also be a good opportunity to generate a dialogue and discussion on the impact of climate change and the possible strategies on mitigation and adaptation for enhancing sustainability of India’s development path. It will also put forth India’s action and the role of civil society, in combating Climate Change.
The exhibition is open to all, but primarily targets the students and teachers. The website - www.sciencexpress.in will carry more information. For a visit to the exhibition or any queries, an email has to be sent to sciencexpress@gmail.com, or contact the team aboard the train on 
09428405407.
School students can participate in the Joy of Science (JOS) Lab in small batches of up to 20 students, by prior registration through email to vascsc.jos@gmail.com, or contact at mobile number – 09428405
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Green India Mission Plans of Four States Approved
(12-Oct-2015:05:46:54)
The second meeting of National Executive Council (NEC) of the National Mission for a Green India (GIM) held here recently, approved the Perspective Plans & Annual Plan of Operations (APOs) submitted by four States - Mizoram, Manipur, Jharkhand and Kerala.
The Perspective Plans of all four States, with a total financial outlay of Rs. 90, 202.68 lakh for a Plan period of 5 to 10 years were approved, along with APOs of Rs.11, 195.32 lakh for this financial year. The total forest and non-forest area taken up in these four States under GIM during the total plan period will be 1, 08, 335 hectares (ha) out of which 81, 939 ha will be improving the density of existing forests and 16, 396 ha will be new areas. For the current financial year, it will be 28, 250 ha and 7, 827 ha respectively. Approval has been granted for alternative energy devices such as biogas, solar devices, LPG, biomass-based systems and improved stoves for 27, 032 households for the current financial year and 81, 233 households for the total plan period. This will help in reducing pressure on forests, gaining carbon benefits, along with health and other associated benefits.
GIM, one of the eight Missions outlined under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), acknowledges the influence that forests have on environmental amelioration though climate change mitigation, food security, water security, biodiversity conservation and livelihood security of forest dependent communities. The mission hinges on decentralized participatory approach involving grass root level organizations and community in planning, decision making, implementation and monitoring with emphasis on landscape approach and convergence with complementary schemes and programmes for better coordination in developing forests and their fringe areas in a holistic and sustainable manner.
The meeting, held on October 9, 2015, was attended by the members of NEC, inter-ministerial experts, Mission Director, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCFs) and State nodal officers from four States. The meeting was chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), Shri Ashok Lavasa. The Secretary appreciated the efforts being taken up by the States in working upon convergence opportunities with complementary schemes/programmes to ensure requisite investment and saturation of the landscapes.
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India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution: At a Glance
(02-Oct-2015:03:21:15)
India has submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Some of the salient points of the INDC are:
• To put forward and further propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions and values of conservation and moderation.
• To adopt a climate-friendly and a cleaner path than the one followed hitherto by others at corresponding level of economic development.
• To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level.
• To achieve about 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030, with the help of transfer of technology and low cost international finance, including from Green Climate Fund.
• To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
• To better adapt to climate change by enhancing investments in development programmes in sectors vulnerable to climate change, particularly agriculture, water resources, Himalayan region, coastal regions, health and disaster management.
• To mobilize domestic and new and additional funds from developed countries to implement the above mitigation and adaptation actions in view of the resource required and the resource gap.
• To build capacities, create domestic framework and international architecture for quick diffusion of cutting edge climate technology in India and for joint collaborative R&D for such future technologies.
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India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution is Balanced and Comprehensive: Environment Minister
(02-Oct-2015:03:18:45)
India to Anchor a Global Solar Alliance
The Government has said that India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) is balanced and comprehensive. Addressing a press conference here today, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, said that India is keen to attempt to work towards a low carbon emission pathway, while simultaneously endeavoring to meet all the developmental challenges that the country faces today. Shri Javadekar said that INDC include reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level and to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. India has also decided to anchor a global solar alliance, INSPA (International Agency for Solar Policy & Application), of all countries located in between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.
The Minister said, ‘recent decisions of the Government represent a quantum jump in its aspirations and demonstrate unparalleled vision’. He also said that India’s contribution represent utmost ambitious action in the current state of development.
The INDC centre around India’s policies and programmes on promotion of clean energy, especially renewable energy, enhancement of energy efficiency, development of less carbon intensive and resilient urban centres, promotion of waste to wealth, safe, smart and sustainable green transportation network, abatement of pollution and India’s efforts to enhance carbon sink through creation of forest and tree cover. It also captures citizens and private sector contribution to combating climate change. The INDC proposals are on the following:
a. Sustainable Lifestyles
b. Cleaner Economic Development
c. Reduce Emission intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
d. Increase the Share of Non Fossil Fuel Based Electricity
e. Enhancing Carbon Sink (Forests)
f. Adaptation
g. Mobilizing Finance
h. Technology Transfer and Capacity Building
INDC outlines the post-2020 climate actions they intend to take under a new international agreement. The INDC document is prepared with a view to taking forward the Prime Minister’s vision of a sustainable lifestyle and climate justice to protect the poor and vulnerable from adverse impacts of climate change. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change adopted an inclusive process for preparation of India’s INDC. It held stakeholder consultations with the specific involvement of the key Ministries and State Governments. Interactions were also held with civil society organisations, thinktanks and technical & academic institutions of eminence. The Ministry had commissioned Greenhouse Gas (GHG) modeling studies for projections of GHG emissions till 2050 with a decadal gap. The gist of all these consultations & studies were taken on board before submitting India’s INDC. For India’s INDC, Government zeroed-in-on a set of contributions which are comprehensive, balanced, equitable and pragmatic and addresses all the elements including Adaptation, Mitigation, Finance, Technology Transfer, Capacity Building and Transparency in Action and Support.
Planned actions and economic reforms have contributed positively to the rapidly declining growth rate of energy intensity in India. The Government of India, through its various institutions and resources, has taken steps to de-couple the Indian energy system from carbon in the long run. Despite facing enormous development challenges like poverty eradication, ensuring housing, electricity and food security for all, India declared a voluntary goal of reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 20–25%, over 2005 levels by 2020, despite having no binding mitigation obligations as per the Convention. A slew of policy measures to promote low carbon strategies and Renewable Energy have resulted in the decline of emission intensity of our GDP by 12% between 2005 and 2010. It is a matter of satisfaction that United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its Emission Gap Report 2014 has recognized India as one of the countries on course to achieving its voluntary goal.
India has adopted several ambitious measures for clean and renewable energy, energy efficiency in various sectors of industries, achieving lower emission intensity in the automobile and transport sector, non-fossil based electricity generation and building sector based on energy conservation. Thrust on renewable energy, promotion of clean energy, enhancing energy efficiency, developing climate resilient urban centres and sustainable green transportation network are some of the measures for achieving this goal.
Solar power in India is poised to grow significantly with Solar Mission as a major initiative of the Government of India. A scheme for development of 25 Solar Parks, Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects, canal top solar projects and one hundred thousand solar pumps for farmers is at different stages of implementation. The Government’s goal of ‘Electricity for All’ is sought to be achieved by the above programs that would require huge investments, infusion of new technology, availability of nuclear fuel and international support.
The energy efficiency of thermal power plants will be systematically and mandatorily improved. Over one million medium and small enterprises will be involved in the Zero Defect Zero Effect Scheme to improve their quality, energy efficiency, enhance resource efficiency, pollution control, waste management and use of renewable energy.
Urban transport policy will encourage moving people rather than vehicles with a major focus on Mass Rapid Transit Systems. In addition to 236 km of metro rail in place, about 1150 km metro projects for cities including Pune, Ahmedabad and Lucknow are being planned. Delhi Metro, which has become India’s first MRTS project to earn carbon credits, has the potential to reduce about 0.57 million tonnes of CO2 e annually.
The switch from Bharat Stage IV (BS IV) to Bharat Stage V (BS V) and Bharat Stage VI (BS VI) to improve fuel standards across the country is also planned for the near future.
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Environment Minister’s Speech at the Major Economies Forum
(30-Sep-2015:06:30:01)
India has advocated bringing in positivity and shunning negativity in the run-up to the Paris Conference. Speaking at the Major Economies Forum in New York today, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar said that ambitious Pre and Post 2020 actions and discussion on real issues relating to lifestyle and climate justice will be more appropriate. Shri Javadekar also said that it is regrettable that some developed countries want to negate the whole set of principles of UNFCCC.
Following is the text of the Minister’s speech on the occasion:
“All countries need to respect differentiation as a principle to deliver climate justice to the developing world. Some developed countries want to negate the whole set of principles of UNFCCC which is regrettable. The genesis of Differentiation lies in principle of historical responsibility, polluter pays, and equity. Therefore, for the success of Paris there should be no effort to tamper with any principle and elements of the convention.
Though India is not part of the problem, it wants to be part of the solution. Our historical cumulative emission as of today is below 3%. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also made a strong pitch for a positive agenda to tackle climate change and appealed that “the current climate of negativism is not a useful factor as we approach COP21 in Paris.”
The Pope in his address to the UNGA and Congress, has also talked about historical responsibility, equity and Principles of polluter to pay, precautionary approach and CBDR. He advised rich countries not to destroy poor ones as earth is getting warmer.The developed world must take moral responsibility for the state of the world today. Pope has also mentioned that the huge consumption of developed world has repercussions on the developing world.
Instead of new distractions like redefining differentiation, we should concentrate on the outcome of COP Paris. Ambitious Pre and Post 2020 actions and discussion on real issues relating to lifestyle and climate justice as propounded by Pope and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be more appropriate at this stage. So let us shun negativity and bring in positivity”.
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Intervention by Environment Minister at the Second Meeting of the Business Dialogue for COP 21
(27-Sep-2015:06:38:43)
The following is the text of the Intervention made by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, at the Second Meeting of the Business Dialogue for COP-21 held at UNFCCC in New York yesterday:
“The world must incentivize green growth activities as ‘Green Credit’ instead of Carbon Credit Mechanism, which provides a way out for the Emitter to get rid of the blame of pollution by paying for the emissions. India has put forward new ideas and proposed debate on lifestyle issues, climate justice and green credit mechanism.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) was a success for the first commitment period ending in 2012. Demand-supply mismatch and low ambition for emission reduction expressed by developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol is a major cause for the slowdown of the well-established CDM market thereafter. In addition, the unilateral decision taken by some countries to restrict the benefits of CDM to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) only, and not to other developing countries like India, has further reduced the confidence in the Market mechanism. At present, CDM is facing one of the most severe crises since its inception. Therefore, the world must discuss new ways to make it a success, with newer concepts like green credit.
Carbon pricing is a major issue but we should not forget that it is a function of demand and supply. The world is now ready with respective Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), with the resolve of each country to work in the direction of green growth. Thus, the signal for the industry is positive and they should invest more and more for research and development.
Research and development must also become part of the business plan, which carries a certain risk, but also generates tremendous profits for the companies. The real issue is how to make available the critical technologies for the developing world at an affordable cost. To this end, India is proposing that part of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) should be used for this purpose, which will be a win-win proposal for all the stakeholders”.
Source: WWF-India, Envis Centre.