Network-based programme of Climate Change Assessment INCCA launched today

MoEF INITIATES 10 FELLOWSHIPS FOR YOUNG RESEARCHERS IN PREMIER INSTITUTIONS ACROSS INDIA: JAIRAM

The ministry of Environment and Forests will initiate a programme of climate change fellowships for young researchers in premier intuitions across India. Addressing the national workshop on review of implementation of Work Programme towards Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment(INCCA) here today Minister of State for Environment and Forests Shri Jairam Ramesh said this enhanced programme will be significant in many ways. First the programme will be more broad-based, covering every significant aspect related to climate change, including the study of black carbon and the impact of climate change on glaciers and on rainfall patterns. It will also comprehensively cover every major sector of the Indian economy. He further said this will involve a larger set of institutions and scientists, including those in the private sector and those situated outside India to bring the best available expertise under a unified knowledge network. This will be an ongoing programme and will provide capacity building to create and nurture the next generation of climate change scientists and experts.

Shri Jairam also introduce the Report “Climate Change and India: Towards Preparation of a Comprehensive Climate Change Assessment”. This Report provides an overview of a major ongoing scientific programme being coordinated by the government to assess climate change and its impact on India. This has been an ambitious endeavour, bringing together over 120 institutions and over 220 scientists from across the country, he informed

The Minister insisted to make the “3 M’s”- Measure, Model and Monitor- which are he explained as at the heart of the enhanced programme. He appealed the scientists community and others to build our own independent and credible researched capacity to study impact of black carbon on Himalayan glaciers and the Indian monsoon.

Shri Vijai Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, in his opening remarks recalled the example of methane emissions from Indian agriculture that was considered at around 38 million tonnes per year by US experts in the early 1990s. This was ultimately accepted at between 2 to 6 million tonnes per year after meticulous field research by Dr. A.P Mitra and his colleagues.

Giving overview of the work progrmme, Dr. Subodh K. Sharma, Adviser in the Ministry of Environment and Forests and NPD, NATCOM, said wide ranging studies in various components constitute the core of the climate change assessment. About 57 independent studies under five major heads have been commissioned so far. They are Climate Scenarios, Socio-Economic Scenarios, Impact Assessments, Integrated V & A Assessments and GHG Emission Profile.

Water Resources, Agriculture, Natural Eco-systems including Forests and Coastal Zones are main fields covered under Impact Assessments. Water Resources cover varied subjects including Improved River Run-off Assessment for Major River Basins, Water Availability and Demand, Ground Water Resources and Future Scenarios. Besides a Review of Status of Himalayan Glaciers and Future Projections is also being studied.

In the field of Agriculture, Rain Fed Crops Across India, Rice/Wheat and Other Crops in Punjab, Apple and Horticulture, Vegetables and Fruits, Major Legume Crops, Coconut and Areca Plantations, Potato, Cotton, Castor and Oilseeds, Fisheries have been covered. The study of Natural Ecosystems including Forests covers Indian Forests, Mangroves and Coral Reefs, Coastal Zones and Health.

While Integrated V&A Assessments include Water, Agriculture, Food Security, Livelihoods and Adaptation, Forests-Forest Products-Livelihoods and Energy Infrastructure and Habitats, GHG Emission Profile will cover Energy, Industrial Process and Product Use (IPPU), Waste, Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry, Waste and Quality Assurance and Quality Control. Measuring GHG Emissions Factors from Power Plants and Steel Plants, Estimating GHG Emission from Energy Industries, Manufacturing Industries, Transport Sector, Co2, CO4,N2O emissions will be covered at large. About 20 presentations were made by scientists and industry from various institutions and sectors.

KP
(Release ID :53192)