local levels. As identified by the UNFCCC, the people whose lives are most threatened
by climate change are vulnerable groups particularly in developing countries, whose
livelihood is traditional crop husbandry or livestock rearing. Therefore, mitigating
climate change is an ethical concern. The chapters by Meenakshi Rajeev et al., Arun B.
Chandran and Anushri, Letha Devi et al., Sreenivasaiah, K. (Chaps. 14, 23, 26, 32)
addressed this issue through agricultural development. According to the report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2014), India’s agricultural sector
would be one of the worst hit of any country in the world. With an erratic and extreme
monsoon, the report states that by 2030 India would face an agricultural loss of over US
$7 billion, affecting income of 10 % of the people (Neeshad online). But if climate
resilience measures in the form adaptive strategies are implemented, 80 % of the losses
could be averted, the report adds. In India, several Missions and strategies (Green India
Mission, REDD+ etc.) have been implemented at various levels under International
initiatives. It is crucial to look at the need of those initiatives and mould responses
accordingly to satisfy the requirement for climate change adaptation and sustainable
development at local level. UNFCCC has also given strategies on the development of
national adaptation and programmes and the support by regional centres; which
endows a platform for a bottom-up approach to confer and adapt with climate change
impacts at regional level. Pandit chapter (Chap. 10) explores the question how
humanity might find the solutions to these global problems. Strengthening livelihoods,
developing sustainable land use policy, etc., have been increasingly seen as a critical
strategy for supporting adaptation. The chapters by Bill Pritchard, Muhammad Haroon
et al., Swamy and Nagaraju, Raju et al., Barun Deb Pal (Chaps. 2, 4, 5, 11, 13) looked at
various facets of livelihood sustainability which will help the adaptation of the stakeholders to the possible impacts of climate change. In the recent COP 21 held in Paris,
India committed towards creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes of
CO 2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover (an increase of about 680–817
million tonnes of carbon stock) by 2030, for which 5 million hectares will be brought
under forest cover. This will enhance carbon sequestration by about 100 million tonnes
CO 2 equivalent annually (MoEF&CC). However, the Green India Mission is expected
to deliver 50–60 % of this target, and therefore, there is a need for developing the plans
and strategies to achieve the remaining goals along with introducing other instruments
in for example creating climate resilient systems, adopting good practices, developing
the strategies for emission reductions and financial provision etc. Therefore, there is a
need to focus equally on adaptation as well as on mitigation to cope up with the impact
of climate change across ecological regions of country.
1 Holistic Outlook: Integrated Approach
Anthropogenic changes in land use and land cover are global phenomena which are
having intensifying consequences on food production, forest and water resources, in
addition to climate change. Understanding the future vulnerability, exposure and
responses required for interlinked human and natural systems is critical and
632
S. Nautiyal et al.
by climate change are vulnerable groups particularly in developing countries, whose
livelihood is traditional crop husbandry or livestock rearing. Therefore, mitigating
climate change is an ethical concern. The chapters by Meenakshi Rajeev et al., Arun B.
Chandran and Anushri, Letha Devi et al., Sreenivasaiah, K. (Chaps. 14, 23, 26, 32)
addressed this issue through agricultural development. According to the report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2014), India’s agricultural sector
would be one of the worst hit of any country in the world. With an erratic and extreme
monsoon, the report states that by 2030 India would face an agricultural loss of over US
$7 billion, affecting income of 10 % of the people (Neeshad online). But if climate
resilience measures in the form adaptive strategies are implemented, 80 % of the losses
could be averted, the report adds. In India, several Missions and strategies (Green India
Mission, REDD+ etc.) have been implemented at various levels under International
initiatives. It is crucial to look at the need of those initiatives and mould responses
accordingly to satisfy the requirement for climate change adaptation and sustainable
development at local level. UNFCCC has also given strategies on the development of
national adaptation and programmes and the support by regional centres; which
endows a platform for a bottom-up approach to confer and adapt with climate change
impacts at regional level. Pandit chapter (Chap. 10) explores the question how
humanity might find the solutions to these global problems. Strengthening livelihoods,
developing sustainable land use policy, etc., have been increasingly seen as a critical
strategy for supporting adaptation. The chapters by Bill Pritchard, Muhammad Haroon
et al., Swamy and Nagaraju, Raju et al., Barun Deb Pal (Chaps. 2, 4, 5, 11, 13) looked at
various facets of livelihood sustainability which will help the adaptation of the stakeholders to the possible impacts of climate change. In the recent COP 21 held in Paris,
India committed towards creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3.0 billion tonnes of
CO 2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover (an increase of about 680–817
million tonnes of carbon stock) by 2030, for which 5 million hectares will be brought
under forest cover. This will enhance carbon sequestration by about 100 million tonnes
CO 2 equivalent annually (MoEF&CC). However, the Green India Mission is expected
to deliver 50–60 % of this target, and therefore, there is a need for developing the plans
and strategies to achieve the remaining goals along with introducing other instruments
in for example creating climate resilient systems, adopting good practices, developing
the strategies for emission reductions and financial provision etc. Therefore, there is a
need to focus equally on adaptation as well as on mitigation to cope up with the impact
of climate change across ecological regions of country.
1 Holistic Outlook: Integrated Approach
Anthropogenic changes in land use and land cover are global phenomena which are
having intensifying consequences on food production, forest and water resources, in
addition to climate change. Understanding the future vulnerability, exposure and
responses required for interlinked human and natural systems is critical and
632
S. Nautiyal et al.