(a) Whether the Government has constituted any Board or organization to deal with the climate change in all states and Union Territories across the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; State/UT-wise; and
(c) if not, the time by which the Government is likely to prepare action plan on climate change?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) to (c): The Government has constituted an advisory council in order to respond to challenge of climate change at national level. At State / Union Territory level, State Steering Committees, comprising of representatives from relevant Government Departments, academicians, civil society and non-governmental organisations, have been set up for providing guidance for formulation State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) and its subsequent implementation.
The Government has formulated National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008, which includes eight national missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, habitat, water, sustaining Himalayan ecosystems, forestry, agriculture and strategic knowledge for climate change. It outlines a number of steps to simultaneously advance India’s development and climate change related objectives. 28 States and 4 Union Territories have prepared their SAPCC in line with the NAPCC.
The Government has supported State Climate Change Cells in 22 States/Union Territories to undertake work on vulnerability and risk assessment, human and institutional capacity building and public awareness programmes under National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change and National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem.
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