(a) whether the Government has taken note of the World Bank report indicating climate change is likely to hit living standards of Indians;
(b) if so, the details of the other major findings of the report relating to India along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) the hotspot districts identified by report particularly in Gujarat; and
(d) the remedial steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) to (c) The World Bank Report titled “South Asia’s Hotspots: The Impact of Temperature and Precipitation Changes on Living Standards” makesprojections based on two scenarios corresponding to RCP 4.5 (Representative Concentration Pathways) and RCP 8.5. RCP 4.5 assumes taking some collective action and is referred to as the climate-sensitive scenario. RCP 8.5 assumes no actions are taken to limit GHG emissions and is referred to as the carbon-intensive scenario. The findings presented under these two scenarios are further based on a set of assumptions. The Report brings outthat “hotspots predicted under the carbon-intensive climate scenario will reduce projected per capita GDP by 2.8 percent in India” and that “1,324.2 million people would be living in areas that are projected to become severe, moderate and mild hotspots” by 2050. It further states “Seven out of the top 10 most affected hotspot districts belong to the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra State, with the remaining three districts located in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh”under the carbon-intensive scenario in 2050. Specific district of Gujarat has not been mentioned in the Report. The Report also does not consider technological changes and the rapid expansion of renewable energy in different parts of the world.
(d) Climate Change is a global problem and requires action by all countries. The adoption of Paris Agreement in 2015 is aimed to combat the problem. On its part, India has undertaken a series of programsto mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change and submittedthe Nationally Determined Contributions(NDCs)under the Paris Agreement for 2021-2030. TheParis Agreement also has an in-built mechanism for ratcheting up future NDCs, which will address some of the concerns highlighted in the Report.
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