Govt set to add 3 ‘missions’ to tackle climate change impact

Oct. 4, 2022

In News:

The Central government has added three new missions – coastal system, human health and sustainable transport – to the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
This has taken the total number of dedicated missions under NAPCC to 11.

What’s in today’s article:

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC):

The Central government, in 2008, had launched the country’s first National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlining existing and future policies and programs addressing climate mitigation and adaptation.
There are 8 national missions forming the core of the NAPCC.
These 8 missions represent multi-pronged, long term and integrated strategies for achieving key goals in climate change.

National Solar Mission –

The Mission’s objective is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for solar technology diffusion across the country.
The Mission targets installing 100 GW grid-connected solar power plants by the year 2022.

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) –

NMEEE aims to strengthen the market for energy efficiency through implementation of innovative business models in the energy efficiency sector.
It aims to do so through:
- Reduction in Energy Footprint: It plans to reduce its energy footprint and stimulate investment in the energy efficiency sector.
- Energy Saving Certificates: It also seeks to give major energy-intensive enterprises energy reduction targets to meet and to award Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts) for doing so.
- Energy-efficient Machinery and Appliances: It aims to encourage the use of energy-efficient machinery and appliances.
- Willingness on Investments: It seeks to boost investors' and financial institutions' willingness to back energy efficiency programs.

National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) –

To promote energy efficiency as a core component of urban planning, the plan calls for -
- Extending the existing Energy Conservation Building Code;
- A greater emphasis on urban waste management and recycling, including power production from waste;
- Strengthening the enforcement of automotive fuel economy standards and using pricing measures to encourage the purchase of efficient vehicles; and
- Incentives for the use of public transportation.

National Water Mission –

The plan sets a goal of a 20% improvement in water use efficiency through pricing and other measures.

National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem –

The plan aims to conserve biodiversity, forest cover, and other ecological values in the Himalayan region, where glaciers that are a major source of India's water supply are projected to recede as a result of global warming.

National Mission for a Green India –

Goals include the afforestation of 6 million hectares of degraded forest lands and expanding forest cover from 23% to 33% of India's territory.

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture –

The plan aims to support climate adaptation in agriculture through the development of climate-resilient crops, expansion of weather insurance mechanisms, and agricultural practices.

National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change –

To gain a better understanding of climate science, impacts and challenges, the plan envisions a new Climate Science Research Fund, improved climate modelling, and increased international collaboration.
It also encourages private sector initiatives to develop adaptation and mitigation technologies through venture capital funds.

News Summary:

To expand its activities in different sectors, the Central government has decided to add three new missions – coastal system, human health and sustainable transport – to the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
Besides, the government has also asked state governments to modify their action plans on climate change and sync them with the NAPCC and the country’s updated targets under the Paris Agreement.

India’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):

In United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC) COP 26 at Glasgow in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a series of new promises to strengthen climate action from India.
The updated NDCs include –
- Emission Intensity –
  - India is now committing itself to at least 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP (emissions per unit of GDP) from 2005 levels.
  - The existing target was a 33% - 35% reduction.
- Electricity Generation –
  - India is also promising to ensure that at least 50% of installed electricity generation capacity in 2030 would be based onnon-fossil fuel-based sources.
  - This is an increase from the existing 40% target.
- Other existing NDCs include –
  - Increase non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW (gigawatts) by 2030.
  - Reduce the total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes (BT) by 2030.
  - Achieve net zero carbon by 2070.

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