Climate change agenda for the desert state
For Rajasthan, TERI was involved in preparation of the State Climate Change Agenda which became the state''''''''''''''''s environment policy.
In 2008, the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) for India was released, setting eight priority missions to respond to climate change; these include National Missions on Solar Energy, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitats, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Greening India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change, covering a range of actions including adaptation and mitigation. For the realization of these actions at the state level, it was essential to juxtapose state-specific risks, impacts and opportunities to the national priorities and Missions.
In this context, preparation of the Rajasthan State Climate Change Agenda was important given that Rajasthan is the largest state in the country and that there are unique vulnerabilities associated with the state, due to exposure to climatic extremes, varying capacities to effectively adapt to the climatic risks, as well as large scale opportunities that the state can tap for mitigation, like harnessing solar energy.
State-specific missions for Rajasthan were developed highlighting research gaps and needs along with relevant policy measures, in light of the state''''''''''''''''s vulnerabilities and capacities.
The agenda led to setting up of task forces for water resources, agriculture and animal husbandry, forestry and biodiversity, human health, enhanced energy efficiency and solar energy, urban governance and sustainable habitats and strategic knowledge for climate change.
For each task force, certain research and development needs as well as supporting policy and regulatory measures were identified.
TERI also listed a set of state priorities for policy, research and implementation with respect to adaptation and mitigation for the time-period 2010-2014. The priorities were set considering national priorities identified in the National Action Plan on Climate Change, the state- specific risks, impacts and opportunities under a changing climate and in consultation with state government officials, non-government authorities, research institutions and academia including sectoral experts.
In 2008, the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) for India was released, setting eight priority missions to respond to climate change; these include National Missions on Solar Energy, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitats, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Greening India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change, covering a range of actions including adaptation and mitigation. For the realization of these actions at the state level, it was essential to juxtapose state-specific risks, impacts and opportunities to the national priorities and Missions.
In this context, preparation of the Rajasthan State Climate Change Agenda was important given that Rajasthan is the largest state in the country and that there are unique vulnerabilities associated with the state, due to exposure to climatic extremes, varying capacities to effectively adapt to the climatic risks, as well as large scale opportunities that the state can tap for mitigation, like harnessing solar energy.
State-specific missions for Rajasthan were developed highlighting research gaps and needs along with relevant policy measures, in light of the state''''''''''''''''s vulnerabilities and capacities.
The agenda led to setting up of task forces for water resources, agriculture and animal husbandry, forestry and biodiversity, human health, enhanced energy efficiency and solar energy, urban governance and sustainable habitats and strategic knowledge for climate change.
For each task force, certain research and development needs as well as supporting policy and regulatory measures were identified.
TERI also listed a set of state priorities for policy, research and implementation with respect to adaptation and mitigation for the time-period 2010-2014. The priorities were set considering national priorities identified in the National Action Plan on Climate Change, the state- specific risks, impacts and opportunities under a changing climate and in consultation with state government officials, non-government authorities, research institutions and academia including sectoral experts.