GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 4255

ANSWERED ON:16.12.2009

CLIMATE CHANGE

ANANT KUMAR HEGDE

(a)the present status of green-house gas emissions in developed,developing and poor nations in the world;

(b)whether the green-house gas emissions by developed nations is major cause for environmental degradation;

(c)if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Indian Government thereon; and

(d)the consensus likely to be arrived at the Copenhagen Summit on the green-house gas emission?

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTSbe pleased to state:-

ANSWER

MINISTER OE STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS

(SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)

(a) As per information available from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, the total aggregate emissions of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) excluding Land use, land use change & forestry (LULUCF) of Annex-I Parties (Developed Countries) increased from 13 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent in 1990 to 14.3 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent iin 2006. Also as per Initial National Communications submitted by Non Annex-I Parties (Developing countries) in 2005 to the UNFCCC, their aggregate Greenhouse Gas emissions was 11.7 billion tonnes CO2 equivalent for the year 1994.

(b)As per Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, the increase in the stock of GHG in the atmosphere over the last many years is responsible for rising global temperature. As industrial activities in developed countries started way back in 1750s the major stock of Green House Gases in the atmosphere is because of them.

(c)As per the requirements of Kyoto Protocol, the Government is pressing developed countries to take deeper emission reduction commitments.Though not bound, the Government is also voluntarily taking steps to reduce green house gas emissions and two of the eight national missions are on mitigation viz. The National Solar Mission and the National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency. Besides, Government has taken several steps towards sustainable development through a range of policies and programmes to mitigate climate change aimed at energy conservation,improved energy efficiency in various sectors;promoting use of renewable energy;power sector reforms; use of cleaner and lesser carbon intensive fuel for transport; fuel switching to cleaner energy; afforestation and conservation of forests; promotion of clean coal technologies and encouraging Mass Rapid Transport systems.

(d)The Climate Change negotiations are in full swing at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. India is actively participating along with other like minded countries and pressing that developed countries should take deeper emissions reduction commitment as well as transfer financial resources and climate friendly technologies to the developing countries at the earliest. At this stage it is difficult to predict the outcome of the Conference.