ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY OF INDIA

By

LAKSHMAN DASS AHUJA

OFFICER ON SPECIAL DUTY

NATIONAL COOPERATIVE UNION OF INDIA (NCUI)

NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES

IN ASIA AND PACIFIC (NEDAC)

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THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is primarily caused by building up of

green house gases (GHG) e.g. Carbon Dioxide,

Methane, Nitrous Oxide etc. in the atmosphere.

Global increases in carbon dioxide concentration are due

to fossil fuel, land use change and human activity

Methane and nitrous oxide due to agriculture activity

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Climate change is accompanied by :

High average temperature

Changed rainfall patterns

Increased severity and frequency of floods, droughts and

cyclones

Oceanic acidification

THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

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CLIMATE CHANGE DUE TO

GHGs Transport Industries Agricultural waste decay By birds, animals High yielding techniques of agriculture Arbitrary use of natural resources Deforestation Reduction in pastures Fertility of land reduction Forests, flora and fauna disappearance

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Livelihoods of poor in developing countries

Availability of water

Food production / food security

Flooding of coastal areas

Increased burden of vector borne and water borne diseases

Slows down the pace of development

OVERALL IMPACT ON

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INDIA’s VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE Is facing high degree of climate variability

GDP growth is attributable to yearly variations in rainfall.

Himalayan eco-system is now highly vulnerable

Increases in mean sea levels will affect large populations in peninsular and coastal India.

Gangotri Glacier - one of the largest is retreating

Rainfall in India may increase by 15 to 40% and annual mean temperature by 3 to 6 degree.

India may suffer huge losses to livelihoods.

Agriculture sector would be most affected

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IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE

Agriculture 4 objectives

1. Resources conservation

2. Ecologic health

3. Economic gains

4. Social and Economic parityAll are affected in varying degrees.

Effect on production and productivity Production would be severely compromised Yields of crops like wheat, rice and pulses will go down Badly affects Horticulture crops Milk production to come down Fish exodus

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Affects food security -

Major challenges for food self sufficiency and affects

global food security

Changed precipitation – insect pressure – requires

use of more and different pesticides

IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE

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INDIA PART OF GLOBAL REGIME

UN Framework on Climate change 1992 to stabilise green house gas concentration

Bali Action Plan 2007 – long term cooperative action

Kyoto Protocol and Copenhagen Conference 2009 – laid down emission reduction targets for industrialised countries

Differences surfaced on several critical issues.

Awaiting settlement in Mexico November – December 2010.

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INDIA’s ACTIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE

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India’s total Co2 emissions are about 4% of global emission. %

USA 19.8

China 17.7

Russia 5.2

India 4.7Japan 4.1

Germany 2.6

Canada 2.1

U.K. 2.0

South Korea 1.6

Mexico 1.5

All other Countries 38.8

Total 100

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Decoupling of growth of emission from economic development- common but differential responsibilities and respective capabilities.

Not binding on India. Economic, social and poverty reduction priorities. Mitigation in the context of sustainable development and consistant with National priorities.

India’s per capita emission in next 20 years is going to be less than developing countries average.

PM – India will never allow to increase per capita emissions to exceed that of the developing countries

National Action Plan – maintaining a high degree of growth and reducing their vulnerability of the impact of climate change

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EIGHT MISSIONS

National Solar Mission

National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency

National Mission on Sustainable Habitat

National Water Mission

National Mission for sustaining the Himalayan Eco-System

National Mission for Green India

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

National Mission for Strategic Knowledge about Climate

Change.

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Besides, outlining 24 initiatives aimed at promoting technologies and actions in the sectors relating to Energy generation Transport Renewable energy Disaster management Capacity building

Mission integration with Ministries and State Action Plans

India prepares periodically the National Communication that gives inventory of green house gasses emissions etc.

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CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM

Emission reduction

Sustainable development

Purchase of Carbon

Reduction Certificates from developing countries

India CDM potential significant part of the global market.

India has 482 CDM Projects – 23% of the world.

Institutional Mechanism

A Council under Prime Minister

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Emission of GHGs – Co2 is the major cause of global warming and climate change- human induced activities are spreading this

Carbon footprint is a measure of impact that human activities have on the environment. It is measured in units of Co2

Reduction in emission can be achieved by industries by Using renewable energy and low carbon technology – wind

energy, solar cells and bio-fuels, use of bio-mass Adopting energy efficient technology – use of energy efficient

lamps Greening Efforts – planting of trees, converting waste land into

plantation areas Adopting recycling and use of recycled products – co-processing

waste material, agro waste like rice husk, bagasse etc. Teleconferencing instead of flying Green buildings

CARBON TRADING

Results in sustainable development, cost savings, environment sensitive market, higher profits, reduction in direct risks like floods, drought and supply chain risk etc.

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COPING WITH CHANGE Coastal zone Buildings and construction Transport Water supply in arid areas Making India energy efficient Agriculture Bio-diversity management Barren Land use planning Check dams Health Rescue Preparedness Insurance Aspect Need for agriculture productivity increase, animals, fishery

and forests, need for crops which retain the fertility of soil.

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INITIATED STEPS IN AGRICULTURE

Ministries of Agriculture and Environment have taken many

steps

Organic farming and green agriculture are environment

friendly. This is being done.

Green agriculture is based on integrated pest and nutrient

management crop livestock integration, use of most

appropriate and productive genetic strains and adoption of

more crop and income per drop of water technologies.

A bio-diversity valley in Orissa is established.

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Generation of electricity and bio-manure through Waste

Management

Bio-fertiliser

Compost

Vermiculture

Bio-mass briquettes - Gassifier based grid power

programme - conversion of solid bio-mass (wood,

agriculture residue) into combustible gas

INITIATED STEPS IN AGRICULTURE

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STEPS BY COOPERATIVES

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Cutting green house gas emission

Carbon neutrality – agriculture and fishery cooperatives – stress on green energy production or innovative feed to reduce emission from livestock production

Consumer cooperatives – carbon footprints - reduction in stores operations, supplies, education to members

Housing –sustainable construction material, eco-buildings

Cooperative banks/ credit - incentives for energy efficient technology

86th ICA DAY – JULY 2008 ON CLIMATE CHANGE

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Insurance cooperatives – down premiums – more risk

coverage

Energy cooperatives – sustainable energy through wind,

solar and bio-fuels

Economic, social and environmental sustainability

Cooperative assume leadership role with UN

Environment Programme

ICA reaffirmed its commitment – sustainable

development and contributing substantially to mitigate

the effects of climate change

86th ICA DAY – JULY 2008 ON CLIMATE CHANGE

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COOP CONNECT MEETING BY NCUI ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Community based and people centric organisations,

eminently suited for spreading the message

Cooperatives - hardly any dialogue with Government

Huge infrastructure of education and training – one session

- special programme

Care for Climate – cooperative principle

Forestry and Jatorpha Cooperatives, Tree Growers

Cooperatives

IFFCO and KRIBHCO – commendable work

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Showcase best practices

Global Network

Carbon, water, fodder, inputs and knowledge banks

Formulate a Strategy that is environmentally, socially,

economically and politically sustainable.

NCUI facilitation CDM

Awareness Co2

COOP CONNECT MEETING BY NCUI ON CLIMATE CHANGE

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KRIBHCO, IFFCO recognised for environment protection,

energy conservation, tree plantation, bio-gas,

vermicompost. IFFCO sold carbon credit worth Rs. 400

million to Spain

Dairy – Tree grower Cooperatives in Gujarat

Re-cycling of milk pouches, Solar water heater, sugar-power

co-generation, efficient water treatment, recycling of

effluent water, ethanol production, afforestation, bye-

product industries

Cooperatives – grass root level can collect traditional

wisdom and disseminate

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A Community Project in 9 Tribal districts of M.P is being taken up. Features are

Education of rural masses

Growing role of Gram Sabha

Code for collective action

Saving water

Caring for plantations

Fields chemical free

Rational energy consumption

Conservation of flora and fauna

Information to families how to mitigate carbon emissions

Stress on indigenous methods or modern one like bio-gas

plants, solar energy, sharing of indigenous knowledge

Such projects need to be taken up by Cooperatives

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ECOLOGICAL CODE

Land - Bio-diversity enhancement Energy – Green Energy Efficiency Water - Effective Waste Water Management Waste - Waste Management Air - Reduce air pollutants Carbon - Cut emissions through energy

efficiency initiatives

Awareness- Create awareness

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CORPORATE SECTOR

Involvement of communities, CSOs and Corporates

Countering Climate Change

Attractive incentives – task breaks

Lower tariffs

R and D grants

Persuade industries to go green

Penalties those who violate energy efficiency solutions

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Village watershed committees managed by communities

Development versus Environment debate

Coping carbon emission would slow down growth

Growth only way out of poverty

Need for development of clean technology

Create awareness and share knowledge of best

practices

Unfortunately environment is still a fringe issue

CORPORATE SECTOR

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FOOD SECURITY AND COOPERATIVES IN INDIA

• Cooperative Societies Acts, 1904 and 1912• Movement more than 100 years old.• 6 lakh cooperatives and 250 million members.• Membership consists of small and marginal farmers,

landless labourers, womenfolk, scheduled caste and tribes, educated unemployed youth, handloom weavers, fishermen, poultry and dairy farmers.

• Democratically managed.• Practices internationally recognised cooperative

principles.• Played pivotal role in ushering in Green and White

Revolutions – poised for Evergreen, Blue and Yellow Revolutions

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SHARE OF COOPERATIVES IN NATIONAL ECONOMY

• Agriculture Credit Disbursed : 19%

• Fertiliser Production : 26.3%

• Fertiliser Distribution : 36%

• Sugar Production : 46.6%

• Wheat Procurement : 33.5%

• Animal Feed Production/Supply : 50%

• Retail Fair Price Shops : 20.3%

• Milk Procurement : 10.5%

• Ice Cream Manufacture : 45%

• Oil Marketed (Branded) : 49%

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SHARE OF COOPERATIVES IN NATIONAL ECONOMY

• Spinning Mills Spindleage : 10.3%

• Handlooms : 54%

• Fisherman : 23%

• Storage Facility : 63.5%

• Rubber Procured / Marketed : 18.5%

• Arecanut Processed /Marketed : 15%

• Salt Manufactured : 7.6%

• Employment Generation– Direct : 1.22 Million

– Self Employment : 15.47 Million

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COVERAGE

• 97% of 6 lakh villages.

• 71% of rural households.

• Primary Sector - Agriculture and allied activities.

• Secondary Sector – manufacturing industries.

• Tertiary Sector – services

• Three tier structure – village, state and national levels.

• Largest movement in the world.

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ROLE IN FOOD SECURITY

• Disbursement of credit.• Distribution of input.• Mopping up of agriculture production.• Agro industries.• Supply chain (storage and cold storage).• Distribution of consumer articles.• Import and export of agriculture produce.• Non – farm sector.• Massive contribution in production, procurement and

distribution of food grains

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IMPACT

• Farmers getting better access to credit and inputs.

• Assured remunerative price.

• Better purchasing power, increase in income and improved standards of living.

• Social and economic transformation in the countryside.

• Potent weapon for economic upsurge and all inclusive growth.

• Human resource development, education and training.

• Entry in new areas.

• Government recognizes role of cooperatives in national economy and part of national cooperative policy.

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IMPACT

• Involvement in Bharat Nirman Programmes.

• Right to food security bill in the offing.

• International cooperation

• Setting up of global level university.

• IFFCO-TOKIO Insurance, KISSAN SANCHAR, Commodity Exchanges, Risk Management Services, Non- conventional Energy, Rural Electrification, Food Processing, IFFCO Foundation, International Trading, Farm Forestry Cooperatives, ICTE, Disaster Management etc. etc.

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Thank You