Press Information Bureau: Planning Commission has approved ‘Climate Change Action Programme’ to be implemented by the Ministry of Environment & Forests during the 12th Five Year Plan.
The Minister of State (I/C) for Environment and Forests Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan further disclosed in Rajya Sabha that the programme aims inter alia at advancing scientific research into and assessment of the phenomenon of climate change, building an institutional and analytical capacity for research and studies in the area of climate change, and supporting domestic actions to address climate change through specific programmes and actions at the national and state level. The scientific schemes under the programme include National Carbonaceous Aerosols Programme; setting up of Long Term Ecological Observatories for Climate Change Studies; Coordinated Studies on Climate Change for North Eastern Region; and setting up of Centre for Climate Change Studies.
The Minister added that India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) includes National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change which has the objective of strengthening and building research capacity and generating strategic knowledge for climate change. Besides, each of the other 7 (seven) Missions made the NAPCC also have research components.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan revealed that the proposed budget allocation for the 12th Five Year Plan period for the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change is Rs. 1050 Crore.
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Negotiations on Climate Change
International negotiations on Climate Change under the aegis of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are aimed at advancing global actions to stabilise climate and address the urgent mitigation and adaptation needs of developing countries including those from Asia and Africa. Parties to the UNFCCC are obliged to take adaptation and mitigation of climate change on the basis of the principles of equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR). In furtherance of this principle, the recently held Climate Change Talks in Durban in December 2011 have helped operationalise the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Committee and the Technology Mechanism which would facilitate support to developing countries in terms of finance and technology for effective mitigation and adaptation actions.
This information was placed in Rajya Sabha today by the Minister of State (I/C) for Environment and Forests Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply.
The Minister further stated that during his inaugural address at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Afro-Asian Rural Development Programme held in Delhi on March 5, 2012, the Prime Minister urged Asian and African countries to work jointly to build a favourable international regime that enables access to funds and green technologies for rural growth. He stressed on the need to enhance international cooperation with a view to secure best outcomes at the climate change negotiations and the forthcoming Rio+20 Conference.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan stated that India’s approach to Rio+20 Conference is guided by the Rio Principles, in particular the principles of equity and CBDR. India also coordinates its approach on the relevant issues with the like minded developing country members from Group of 77 and China including those from Asia and Africa.
Source: PIB, India
