Reeling under the full impact of global warming, from extreme floods to severe droughts, India has initiated several significant steps to mitigate the consequences of climate change
Temperatures globally have risen by 1.1°C above the benchmark 1850-1900 levels, essentially due to human activities with ominous repercussions across the planet's ecosystem. In a comprehensive report of India's position with regard to climate change, the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, said that global warming is unleashing a range of adverse events in the country, including floods, droughts, heatwaves, and glacier melt, taking a toll on its biodiversity, agriculture, human health, and urban infrastructure.
India’s Third National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), submitted in 2023, confirms that the country has implemented a multi-pronged approach to climate action. The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) provides an overarching framework, with missions covering areas such as solar energy, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, and agriculture. Additionally, 34 states and union territories have prepared their climate action plans aligned with the NAPCC.
Additionally, India has seen a substantial increase in funding for adaptation efforts, reflecting the country's unwavering commitment to climate action. The National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change has sanctioned projects worth Rs. 847.48 crore across 27 states and Union territories. Moreover, India’s Initial Adaptation Communication to the UNFCCC reveals that adaptation-related expenditure has grown from 3.7 Percent of GDP in 2015-16 to 5.6 Percent in 2021-22.