Coordination of climate change actions in India

Context

Climate is one of the most formidable challenges the world is facing. It is affecting us now and will affect future generations even more. India is already witnessing severe water shortages, flooding and droughts, and these effects are threatening the country’s development. 

India needs to increase its capacity to deal with climate change. The government has therefor announced action plans at the national and sub-national levels. In 2015, the government announced to implement the ambitious “Nationally Determined Contributions” (NDCs) as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These include promoting renewable energies as well as additional forest cover, enhancing adaptation measures and guiding producers and consumers for a sustainable lifestyle and not least mobilising finance and transferring technology.

The Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is guiding the country’s actions for combatting climate change. This includes advising sector ministries and state governments on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable production and consumption patterns. To do this, the ministry needs to strengthen its capacity, improve its use of existing knowledge, formulate suitable policies, and monitor results. 

Objective

Dialogue and the exchange of knowledge and experience among different (state) governments, research institutes, academia and civil society are improved. This knowledge network coordinates climate change actions and supports India in achieving its climate goals.

Approach

The project Supporting the Institutionalisation of Capacities on Climate Change Studies and Actions (ICCC) provides studies and models for climate protection and resilience to the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It also supports the ministry in implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Moreover, the project promotes network-building between key stakeholders, creates links with national and international research institutions and supports the creation of a publicly available knowledge platform. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is supporting the project as an international knowledge partner. PIK is also involved in the process of setting up an Indo-European Expert Group to advice on policy formulation on climate issues in India.

The ICCC project reinforces the Indian Climate Action Programme and the country’s climate strategy. Its activities are aligned with and support India’s major climate policies, including the Road map for the implementation of the NDCs, the National Action Plan on Climate Change, and contribution to UNFCCC dialogue on the climate. 

Results

• An institutional matrix for a robust comparative analysis of climate change institutions has been developed. The excel tool gives complete details (states/ sectors/ category/ funding/ experience etc.) from over 250 Indian institutions and 40 international institutions.
• A Framework for MoEFCC’s Advisory services for line ministries on climate resilient rural infrastructure has been developed. 
• An excel tool/matrix pertaining to the NDC goals (Reduction of emissions intensity; Renewable energy; Forestry: creation of carbon sinks; Adaptation particularly in agriculture and water resources; Sustainable lifestyles) has been developed to evaluate the current research landscape and identify capacity gaps. 
• A framework for the establishment of an Indo-European Expert Group on Climate Science and policy consultation has been developed to promote an enabling institutional environment and create adequate mechanisms to mainstreaming climate science by tapping the potentials for cooperation amongst national and international policy makers, research and academic institutions as well as the private sector.
• A publicly accessible climate change web portal design was created. The portal provides information on climate science, climate protection activities and financing instruments and exchange of knowledge between government institutions, interest groups in the private sector and civil society organisations.