Climate Sense

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current climate risks and soil and moisture conservation, as well

as helping to develop traditional water resources in the village. The

service also helps in the development of pasture land and other

capacity building programmes related to mitigation. All this is done

in partnership with the district authorities and non-governmental

organizations through a participatory programme including both

villagers and farmers.

Indian initiatives focus particularly on development-oriented

drought mitigation and water management, as well as animal

husbandry programmes. It is also concerned with strengthening

research for enhancing adaptive capacity and mitigation potential.

In addition, it promotes the government-run Agriculture Insurance

Company, which protects farmers from the vagaries of the weather.

Societal response

The most effective way to address climate change is to

adopt a sustainable development pathway. This can

be achieved by shifting to environmentally sustain-

able technologies and by promoting concepts such as

energy efficiency, renewable energy, forest conserva-

tion, reforestation and water conservation. The main

issue for developing countries is reducing the vulner-

ability of their natural and socioeconomic systems to

the projected effects of climate change.

India is already expending over two per cent of its

GDP on programmes that address climate adapta-

tion. The Government of India has made many policy

decisions aimed at reducing risks and enhancing the

adaptive capacity of the most vulnerable sectors and

groups in the country. The ultimate target of such

efforts is to secure livelihoods and alleviate poverty.

Adaptation schemes currently in progress include: 6 on

disaster management; 19 on health improvement and

prevention of disease; 22 on crop improvement and

research; 19 on drought proofing and flood control; 6

on risk financing; 12 on forest conservation; and 30 on

poverty alleviation and livelihood preservation.

Specific programmes fall under all sectors and include:

the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act; the

National Agricultural Insurance Scheme; formulation of

the coastal regulation zones; and the Participatory Forest

Management Programme.

Adaptation and mitigation mechanism

The Government of India is in the process of setting

up a National Action Plan on Climate Change, which

contains eight aims focused on energy efficiency. The

Action Plan is a response to India’s current vulnerability

to climate change, and represents its strong commitment

to sustainable development though energy efficiency

and the conservation of natural resources. Two factors

form the basis of this promise: India’s heritage of an

environmentally-friendly culture and recognition of its

international responsibility as a developing country.

These actions will enable India to engage constructively

with global efforts to preserve and protect the environ-

ment through practical solutions, for the benefit of all

humankind.

A state-level advisory council – incorporating

experts from various organizations including IMD –

conveys specific advice on adaptation issues, providing

uniformity in policy making across the country. India’s

meteorological services and the observing systems

which support them are strengthened as frequently as

technological advancements allow to ensure maximum

economic, social and environmental benefits. India is

not obliged to cut emissions under the Kyoto Protocol,

nevertheless it has a range of actions in place to

reduce GHG emissions and improve energy efficiency

including: setting up a Bureau of Energy Efficiency;

reforming its power sector; initiating afforestation

and conservation projects; and using cleaner and less

carbon-intensive fuel for transport.

Climate change and societal response: afforestation

Image: IIT Bombay

Climate change and societal response: capacity building for community base

adaptation to climate change

Image: Anand Agricultural University, Anand