The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) is a comprehensive framework that outlines India’s strategy for addressing climate change. It incorporates a range of national missions that focus on both mitigation and adaptation to climate change impacts. The plan specifically seeks to enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities, while promoting sustainable development across sectors like energy, water, agriculture, health, and forests. Below are the key details and initiatives highlighted in the information:

Key Elements of the NAPCC:

Overarching Framework: The NAPCC sets the foundation for climate actions in India, with a focus on integrating climate resilience and adaptation in vulnerable communities, as well as sustainable development across various sectors.

Eight National Missions: The NAPCC comprises national missions in the following areas:

• Solar Energy: Promoting solar power as a clean energy source.
• Energy Efficiency: Enhancing energy efficiency across sectors.
• Water: Focusing on water conservation, efficient use, and management.
• Agriculture: Adapting agricultural practices to changing climate patterns.
• Himalayan Ecosystem: Preserving the unique ecosystems of the Himalayan region.
• Sustainable Habitat: Promoting green building practices and sustainable urban development.
• Green India: Enhancing forest and tree cover for carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation.
• Human Health: Addressing climate-related health risks.
• Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change: Building capacity for research and knowledge sharing.

Focus on Adaptation: Six out of the nine missions in NAPCC are designed to enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable communities, such as those dependent on agriculture, coastal areas, and water resources.

State-Level Action Plans: 34 states in India have prepared State Action Plans on Climate Change that align with the NAPCC, focusing on region-specific issues and priorities.

India’s Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC):

Under the Paris Agreement, India has updated its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), with a key target of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through expanded forest and tree cover by 2030. This target is an important component of India’s contribution to global climate goals.

Afforestation and Forest Restoration Initiatives:

• Green India Mission (GIM): One of the key missions under NAPCC, GIM focuses on enhancing India’s forest cover and contributing to climate change adaptation through afforestation and restoration activities. This includes both forest and non-forest areas, engaging local communities in the process.
• Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI): This initiative aims to restore and protect mangrove ecosystems, which play a critical role in carbon sequestration and protecting coastal communities from climate impacts. The project spans approximately 540 sq. km across nine coastal states and four Union Territories.

Public Participation and Community Engagement:

• ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign: Launched on World Environment Day 2024, this campaign encourages citizens to plant trees and engage in climate-positive activities. As of now, more than 100 crore saplings have been planted as part of this initiative.

Progress on Carbon Sequestration:

India has made significant progress in enhancing carbon sinks, with an additional 1.97 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent sequestered between 2005 and 2019, as reported in India’s third National Communication to the UNFCCC in 2023.

This information was presented by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, in the Rajya Sabha.