5 Nov : With release of today the state of Delhi becomes the first state in India to come out with an Action Plan on Climate Change. Releasing the Climate Change Agenda of Delhi 2009-2012 , Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests(I/C) congratulated the Chief Minister of Delhi Smt Sheela Dixit to be the first state in this direction. This was in response to the Prime Minister’s call to the Ministers of Environment and Forests, of all state governments during recent conference to prepare Action Plans keeping in view the National Action Plan on Climate Change. Shri Ramesh said many other states are in process to prepare their Action Plans in which Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are very actively involved in finalizing their states’ Action Plans on Climate Change. He also informed that few days back the Himalayan States also got together themselves in Shimla and set up a Himalayan State Development Forum. The forum will cover the Eastern Himalayas, the Central Himalayas and the Western Himalayas region. The total of 10 states would look into the issues of the Himalayan eco-system.
India is probably the most vulnerable country as far as Climate Change is concerned in the world. The Minister elaborated four areas of vulnerability which India faces and they do not exists in any country in the world. They are Monsoon, Himalayan Glaciers, peninsular India’s large coastlines and location of our natural resources. Throwing more light, Shri Ramesh said that the uncertain Monsoons are our economic life-line and particularly our rural prosperity depends on it. Our water supply depends on it and if monsoon fails, the economy, the society everything comes to a grinding halt in the country.
The second area of vulnerability comes from Himalayan Glaciers, he explained. Today Himalayan Glaciers are referred to as third pole after the North Pole and the South Pole. The water security in northern parts of our country, the water flow and livelihood in vast part of our country depends on state and health of our Himalayan Glaciers. About peninsular India, Mr Ramesh said three hundred fifty million people live in these areas that are dependent on what is going to happen to sea levels. To the large coastline, mean sea level rising has a direct impact on livelihood. Regarding the fourth area of vulnerability he said it comes from the fact that most of our national resources are located in thick forest areas, be it coal, iron ore or bauxite. They are all in forest area , particularly in Central India. Out of 192 countries in the world, he added that no country is vulnerable on four dimensions as India is. He cautioned that we have to be careful, pro-active and have to take leadership, not because the world is telling us but to show the world how we adapt to the impact of Climate Change, mitigation etc.
Appreciating the report the Union Minister said this document is superior to National Action Plan on Climate Change. This is very specific and concrete report where implementation has to start at the earliest, he added. He suggested setting up special task force and engaging young- passionate and public spirited professionals in the implementation process. System for mapping carbon foot print of Delhi, initiation in Gas Based Power Plants, more use of solar energy and steps to generate electricity from waste are commendable initiatives of the state government. The Minister also congratulated the State for implementing one of the twelve global environmental initiatives in the form of CNG fuel. Welcoming the urban forests scheme of the state government, he suggested to increase the density of forest cover in forest area of Delhi which have turned into degraded forest. Raising two issues namely river Yamuna and sewage disposal, the Minister said we have to overcome these challenges. To control pollution he appealed to take steps so that no untreated sewage and untreated industrial effluent will be allowed go in the rivers by 2012.