Question : GLOBAL WARMING

(a) whether India is one of the prominent countries facing danger of global warming;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard particularly in case of Sundarbans?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS(SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)

(a) to ( c) The fourth assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) brought out in 2007, provide information on global impacts of projected climate change on various regions of the world and provides information on the impacts such as Ecosystems,Food, Fibre and Forest products,Coastal systems and low-lying areas,Industry,Settlement,Society and Health across the world. In general these reports do not state impacts on India but give on a global regional basis. With regard to Asia, the reports bring out the following interalia:

i. Glacier melt in the Himalayas is projected to increase.

ii. Freshwater availability in Central, South, East and Southeast Asia particularly in large river basins is projected to decrease.

iii. Coastal areas, especially heavily-populated mega-delta regions in South, East and Southeast Asia, are projected to be at greatest risk.

iv. It is projected that crop yields could increase up to 20% in East and Southeast Asia while it could decrease up to 30% in Central and South Asia by the mid-21st century.

v. Endemic morbidity and mortality due to diarrhoeal disease primarily associated with floods and droughts are projected to rise in East, South and Southeast Asia.

The Government has been spending over 2% of the GDP on various schemes related to adaptation to the India’s natural climate variability. With climate change happening, this amount may have to be increased. In 2007 the Government of India had set up Expert Committee on Impacts of Climate Change under the Chairmanship of Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India.The Terms of Reference of the Committee are to study the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on India and to identify the measures that we may have to take in the future in relation to addressing vulnerability to anthropogenic climate change impacts.

Sunderbans are unique and ecologically sensitive ecosystems.Steps being taken for protection include:

i. During the last decade, more than 4000 hectares of Mangrove plantations have been undertaken at a total cost of Rs 2.4 crores.

ii. An amount of Rs 24 crores has been spent during the 10th plan (countrywide) under the MOEF’s programme of Conservation and Management of Mangroves

iii. Annually, an area of 350-400 hectares is taken up for mangroves development in the Sunderbans.

iv. Besides several activities are undertaken under the Joint Forest Management Scheme aimed at people’s participation at side forest area for alternative livelihood to offload pressure on Mangrove Forests.