508
J. A. Dar et al.
animals, and cause the spread of vector-borne diseases (Kumar and Chopra 2009).
There are also evidences of shifting of many species upward seeking cooler climates
in the Himalayas region (Mishra and Singh 2017; Singh et al. 2012). The altered
monsoon patterns coupled with the incidence of droughts had already hit hard at
the agricultural sector, which forms the backbone of Indian economy. The deltaic
regions and major food-producing states have suffered huge losses due to climate
change and global warming. Moreover, the states along the coastlines are highly
vulnerable to cyclones and in the future may require remapping of boundaries as
the low-lying coastal regions are at a risk of getting submerged due to rise in sea
level. Ocean warming and ocean acidification have drastically affected the fish diversity, distribution, and phenology (Ninawe et al. 2018), thereby impacting the fishery
sector. In addition, the ocean acidification would affect the calciferous animals and
cause mass coral bleaching. The Indian coral reefs have undergone 29 mass bleaching events since 1989 due to ocean warming (Ninawe et al. 2018). Aside from the
natural impacts on climate change on the eco-biological and the economic spheres,
the anthropogenic pressures such as deforestation, dumping of wastes, urbanization,
etc. are pushing the natural ecosystems beyond their natural capacities to adapt and
recover.
According to the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR)
(http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/), India ranks third among countries with highest carbon dioxide emissions. However, India is also recognized for its vast forest cover and
therefore has a huge potential for carbon storage. India, together with Myanmar and
Indonesia accounts for 70% of the carbon stocks of Asian forests (Brown et al. 1993;
FAO 2010; Rajashekar et al. 2018). The carbon stock of Indian forests is 7082 million
tonnes (FSI 2017). Of these, 2238 million tonnes are stored in aboveground biomass
and 699 million tonnes are locked in belowground biomass in the vegetation pool,
which are primarily located in Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
and Maharashtra.
India has played its part towards combating climate change by planning and implementing various measures. India acceded to the Kyoto Protocol on 26th August 2002
and has also ratified the Paris Agreement (October 2016) and signed the Asia Pacific
Partnership on Clean Development and Climate in 2005. National CDM Authority provides guidelines and regulations regarding the CDM projects implemented
in India. India ranks second (after China) based on the number of CERs issued as
on 31st August 2018 (CDM Project activities, https://cdm.unfccc.int). Many of the
CDM projects in India are focused on wind energy, electricity generation, waste
handling and disposal, establishing green buildings, etc. National Action Plan on
Climate Change in June 2008, included eight core national missions related with
solar, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water sustaining the Himalayan
ecosystem, green India, sustainable agriculture, and strategic knowledge for climate
change. State action plans on climate change were also implemented in several states
across India. India has also established Coal Cess and the National Clean Energy Fund
as well as National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change towards climate change
J. A. Dar et al.
animals, and cause the spread of vector-borne diseases (Kumar and Chopra 2009).
There are also evidences of shifting of many species upward seeking cooler climates
in the Himalayas region (Mishra and Singh 2017; Singh et al. 2012). The altered
monsoon patterns coupled with the incidence of droughts had already hit hard at
the agricultural sector, which forms the backbone of Indian economy. The deltaic
regions and major food-producing states have suffered huge losses due to climate
change and global warming. Moreover, the states along the coastlines are highly
vulnerable to cyclones and in the future may require remapping of boundaries as
the low-lying coastal regions are at a risk of getting submerged due to rise in sea
level. Ocean warming and ocean acidification have drastically affected the fish diversity, distribution, and phenology (Ninawe et al. 2018), thereby impacting the fishery
sector. In addition, the ocean acidification would affect the calciferous animals and
cause mass coral bleaching. The Indian coral reefs have undergone 29 mass bleaching events since 1989 due to ocean warming (Ninawe et al. 2018). Aside from the
natural impacts on climate change on the eco-biological and the economic spheres,
the anthropogenic pressures such as deforestation, dumping of wastes, urbanization,
etc. are pushing the natural ecosystems beyond their natural capacities to adapt and
recover.
According to the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR)
(http://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/), India ranks third among countries with highest carbon dioxide emissions. However, India is also recognized for its vast forest cover and
therefore has a huge potential for carbon storage. India, together with Myanmar and
Indonesia accounts for 70% of the carbon stocks of Asian forests (Brown et al. 1993;
FAO 2010; Rajashekar et al. 2018). The carbon stock of Indian forests is 7082 million
tonnes (FSI 2017). Of these, 2238 million tonnes are stored in aboveground biomass
and 699 million tonnes are locked in belowground biomass in the vegetation pool,
which are primarily located in Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
and Maharashtra.
India has played its part towards combating climate change by planning and implementing various measures. India acceded to the Kyoto Protocol on 26th August 2002
and has also ratified the Paris Agreement (October 2016) and signed the Asia Pacific
Partnership on Clean Development and Climate in 2005. National CDM Authority provides guidelines and regulations regarding the CDM projects implemented
in India. India ranks second (after China) based on the number of CERs issued as
on 31st August 2018 (CDM Project activities, https://cdm.unfccc.int). Many of the
CDM projects in India are focused on wind energy, electricity generation, waste
handling and disposal, establishing green buildings, etc. National Action Plan on
Climate Change in June 2008, included eight core national missions related with
solar, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water sustaining the Himalayan
ecosystem, green India, sustainable agriculture, and strategic knowledge for climate
change. State action plans on climate change were also implemented in several states
across India. India has also established Coal Cess and the National Clean Energy Fund
as well as National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change towards climate change