Question : EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOREST DWELLERS



(a) whether the Government has made any action plan to lessen the impact of climate change;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) the details of adverse effect of climate change on forest dwellers; and

(d) the details of the parameters set up by the Government on the occasion of World Environment Day to combat the issues of climate change?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a)and (b) Government has released the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) on June 30, 2008. NAPCC identifies measures that promote India’s development objectives while also yielding co-benefits for addressing climate change effectively. NAPCC includes eight National Missions in specific areas of Solar Energy, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system, Green India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.

(c) As per the India’s Second National Communication submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in May, 2012, Forests are already subjected to multiple stresses including over extraction, insect outbreaks, livestock grazing, forest ?re and other anthropogenic pressures. Climate Change is an additional stress to forest and adversely affects Forest dwellers who are dependent on forests directly for sustenance and livelihood.

(d) The theme of World Environment Day, 2013 was “Think. Eat. Save-Reduce our Foot-print.” This is to raise awareness about the environmental consequences and issues of climate change.