Climate change, natural disasters and hazards risks

Climate change, natural disasters and hazards risks
Climate change and natural disasters pose a key challenge to sustainable development. Different ecological and climatic zones in India have made it differentially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. These impacts range from changes in temperature, precipitation and humidity to increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme events like floods, droughts and cyclones. Changes in climatic conditions can have serious implications on agricultural production agriculture dependent livelihoods and food. Freshwater availability is also at risk due to potential glacial melt and changes in river flows along the Himalayan range.
Vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters also has a strong linkage with poverty and has the potential to create multiple stresses over the stresses that already exist. It is, therefore imperative that the country adopts measures aimed at building resilience to such risks. The most important measure of adaptation is development itself and acceleration of inclusive growth is the key to combat expected adversities.
Biodiversity related challenges
India is a mega diverse country, with about eight oercent of the world’s biodiversity, high percentage of endemic floral and faunal specials, and four biodiversity hotspots. This biodiversity is under severe threat both within and outside the protected area (PA) network, due to the loss and/or fragmentation of its habitat to competing uses. The global struggle against poverty and hunger cannot be won without enhanced conservation, and sustainable natural resource management. The Biodiversity Act of 2002 provides for access and benefit sharing related to traditional knowledge and biodiversity. India has taken a number of proactive measures related to biodiversity conservation. Since 1991, the government has committed funds, particularly in the field of PA management, for eco-development (integrated conservation and development), along with site specific package comprising measures for conserving biodiversity through local community development. There have been some successful examples of the eco-development programme like the Periyar Tiger Reserve. In recognition of the need to protect the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, the Moet set up a Panel in 2010 to study its ecological status and recommend improvements. The Panel has recently submitted its report.
Conclusion

Energy Security

Energy Security 
In addition to the above mentioned resource and environmental concerns, high energy needs pose serious challenges. In order to attain its developmental goals, India meeds to grow at a fast pace for which energy remains an integral input. Rapid urbanization, industriazation, rising incomes and the growing use of energy intensive products are driving India’s demand for energy. Lack of access to modern energy services and its implications for human well-being mean that energy supplies need to grow to reach the unserved population. In India, 35.5% of the population still lives without access to electricity.
Addressing growth and energy poverty could have significant implications for energy supplies. Though there are significant coal reserves they are mostly located in environmentally sensitive areas and are inferior in quality.

E-waste

E-waste is a collective terminology for the entire stream of electronic equipment, such as TVs, refrigerators, telephones, air conditioners, computers and mobile phone that has reached its end of life (EOL) for its current user, such devices are generally considered toxic when disassembled or incinerated and are typically targeted for hazardous disposal or are slated for recovery and reuse. As a result, the e-waste industry is emerging with markets that need to be assessed for growth potential.
Resource security Water, land and food security 
Demand for water for multiple uses has been increasing. This is especially so in agriculture for irrigation, industry and for domestic consumption. India is witnessing a decline in per capita availability of water over the past few decades. Population increase, rising incomes and industrial growth has also resulted in decrease of water availability per capita. Water availability on a per capita cubic meter basis is estimated to decline from 1730 to 1240 in case of India.

Water Quality / Increase in solid waste and e-waste

Water Quality
Urbanization and development activities, land degradation, and inadequate infrastructure for wastewater disposal are major reasons that lead to rapid deterioration in water quality in the majority of rivers, streams, and lakes in India. According to CPCB during 2005-06, of 115 sewage treatment plants in major Indian States 35% continued to discharge polluted water beyond the stipulated norms. Inter-sectoral impacts may also arise when industrial effluents flow directly to agricultural land, affecting soil and groundwater while possible contaminating drinking water wells.
Apart from the above seawater intrusion into freshwater aquifers in coastal regions impact freshwater availability and usage. Surface water sources like rivers and lakes face a greater danger of biological contamination due to high pollution loads.
Increase in solid waste and e-waste
One key challenge is the rapidly increasing amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Indian cities. The annual estimates from various studies suggest that MSW generation in India ranges between 40 MT and 55 MT. Along with the increase in waste generation there is also change in the composition of waste generation. Plastic waste is a growing environmental concern.

Making growth inclusive / Infrastructure shortages

Making growth inclusive
A major concern of policy –makers is that despite the significant acceleration in growth in the period since the Earth Summit, the benefits of economic growth have eluded large disadvantaged sections of the population. Much of the growth has occurred in the industrial and service sector, with the agricultural sector being stagnant. Some of the poorer states, with large sections of their population in the agricultural sector have shown low growth rates resulting in increasing regional disparities. Inter-personal, inter-regional as well as inter-community inequalities have been on the rise. The states with developed markets and good physical and social infrastructure have grown at a much faster rate than the others. In twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-2017), the Planning Commission’s focus has been on instilling ‘inclusive growth.’
Infrastructure shortages
India has infrastructure shortages, a consequence of its economic growth outstripping infrastructure availability. This has impeded investment flow and constrained economic growth in the country. For ensuring sustainability of the growth process, it is imperative that infrastructure constraints are removed particularly in energy, roads, ports, airports and urban rural infrastructure. While in some areas, such as roads and airports, it has been possible to have the private sector participate in infrastructure investment; in many other areas the progress has been slow. Many new projects, and improved cargo handing at ports have been initiated, but there continues to be a massive gap. Public private partnerships (PPP) to execute infrastructure projects will be essential in the years to come. Projected investment required for infrastructure development during the twelfth Plan period (2012-2017) is INR 40.99 trillion; half of this is expected to come from the private sector.
Environmental quality concerns

Production and consumption patterns

Production and consumption patterns
In global debates pertaining to climate change, unsustainable production and consumption patterns in the developed world have been highlighted. Even in the domestic context, environmental degradation is linked closely to unsustainable production and consumption patterns. According to a study carries out by TERI on Environmental Kuznets Curve, India’s total SO2 and NOx emission had increased from almost 7.12 million metric tons to 9.82 million metric tons between 1995 and 2005 with a CAGR of 3.63% .

Greendex, an indicator developed by the National Geographic Society and Globescan ranks India and Brazil as first in terms of environmentally sustainable consumption and lifestyle. With rising middle class developing countries are taking initiatives to promote sustainable consumption. However, the continuation of unsustainable patterns of consumption and lifestyles still need to be addressed adequately by developed countries.

Unsustainable patterns of consumption and lifestyles still need to be addressed adequately by
developed countries.

Several traditional practices that are sustainable and environment friendly continue to be a regular part of the lives of people in developing countries. With increasing purchasing power, consumption linked to market driven consumerism is stressing the resource base of developing countries further. Moreover, subsidies often lead to wasteful and unsustainable consumption by distorting the value of a resource.

Urbanization and migration

Urbanization and migration
India has witnessed rapid urbanization in the last few years. The urban population has been growing and is projected and is projected to grow at a much faster rate than the rural population. The increase in urban population has been attributed both to natural growth and push migration form villages. In some states, urban poverty seems to be greater than those in rural areas. Among urban areas, poverty rates in small towns are markedly higher than those in large metropolitan areas. Since a disproportionate share of India’s urban population resides in small and medium size cities, the urban poor are also found to be greater in these smaller places.

The growth generates pressure on public infrastructure, including basic health and sanitation services creating a disorganized urban landscape, and constitutes a social crisis that can result in major health risks and pose threats to sustainable development. This growth in urban population leads to the creation of urban slums. Which are at high risk from outbreaks of contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, cholera, typhoid and plague resulting from poor environmental conditions?

Urban sprawl also creates a mobility challenge – access to transportation that is required to meet economic and social needs. The growing transport demand in India accompanied by massive urbanization, increasing vehicular density and growing consumption of energy (mostly fossil fuels) Government and undertaken various initiatives to promote sustainability in the transport sector. These initiatives include the National Urban Transport Policy, National Highway Development Project, and implementation of strict emission norms and development of vehicle efficiency standards. Much more needs be done to address sustainability concerns at the urban level through working with local bodies and other stakeholders.

Health Challenges / Regional disparities / Sanitation and drinking water-related challenges / Education access and quality

Health Challenges
Though the government spending on health has increased over the last years and the been as important element in reducing poverty, much more attention is required of the poverty-health linkage. Child malnutrition and under-nutrition in particular, remains high, and improvements have been much lower than what would be expected given India’s pace of GDP growth. Besides inadequate access to public sector health facilities, there are also concerns with the quality of the services provided. This has resulted in an increase in the demand for private health care services, which create their own concerns given the wide differences in quality of private health care, high prices, which makes it unaffordable for many and high medical costs, which push many people into poverty. What is needed to meet this challenge is the complementarity between the high government spending in the health sector and reforms to improve accountability in service delivery, both by the private and public sector. Better regulation and oversight of private providers will play an important role. The design of the health insurance scheme, which the government is planning to toll out in the near future to improve access to health care, will be very critical to improved outcomes.
Regional disparities
Low- income states of Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh are behind other states on most social indicators. The Multidimensional Poverty index (MP) study report indicates that eight Indian states, namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, and West Bengal are home to 421 million multidimensional poor persons. Similarly disparities are evident in India at the inter- state and rural –urban level in the provision of basic services, which include water supply sanitation and clean energy.
Sanitation and drinking water-related challenges 

Green Economy / Impact of the outcome of Rio+20 the development agenda of India

Green Economy

There is no one agreed definition of Green Economy. India has viewed the concept to Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; which was one of the themes of Rio+20 Green Economy is one of the means to achieve sustainable development. The concept should not lead to any form of green protectionism, imposition of conditionality or any intrusion in the domestic policy space. The document affirms that there are different approached, visions, models and tools available to each country, in accordance with its national circumstances and priorities to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions which is the overarching goal. Green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication is one of the important tools available for achieving sustainable development and that it could provide options for policy making but should not be a right set of rules. The outcome of summit firmly rejects the unilateral measures and trade barriers as well as unwarranted conditionalities on ODA and finance under the guise of Green Economy.

Impact of the outcome of Rio+20 the development agenda of India

One of the key priorities of India in the negotiations was to protect the domestic policy space for our development. The outcome document has done so by reaffirming the Rio principles including CBDR and equity and avoiding a prescriptive outcome with unilateral norms and targets. Thus, we could follow our own policies on sustainable development and poverty eradication. We would keenly follow up on the four process/ mechanisms proposed in the outcome document on finalizing strategy , technology transfer, SDGs and high level political forum with a view to protecting our interests.

Sustainable Development Goals and Millennium Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals and Millennium Development Goals

The conference was remarkable for kick-starting the process on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The conference recognized the importance and utility of having a set of sustainable development goals, based on Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. 

The SDGs would address and incorporate in a balanced way all three dimensions of sustainable development and their inter linkages. 

Since SDGs are expected to become a part of the post- 2015 global development agenda, SDGs would guide the international community towards inclusive sustainable development.

As compared to SDGs, the Millennium development Goals (MDGs) were not developed through an inter- governmental process. 

All the MDGs are applicable only to the developing countries except for MDG 8 which relates to aid and finance.

Rio+20 Summit

Rio+20 Summit

The objective of the Rio+20 Conference was to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development , review progress and remaining implementation gaps and assess new and emerging challenges, since the UN Conference on Environment  & Development held in Rio de Janerio in 1992 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. Towards this end, the Conference has two themes viz. (a) Green Economy in the context of Sustainable Development & Poverty Eradication (GESDPE); and (b) Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD).

Achievements of Rio +20

The centrality of the Principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) has been reaffirmed. SO has been the importance of the principles of Equity and CBDR in the context of climate change negotiations. Poverty eradication, which is the central concern to developing countries, has been placed at the center of the global development agenda. The outcome document is notable for having launched two important mechanisms, one on finance and the other on technology transfer. India played a key role in conceptualizing and negotiating the formulation in the document on these two mechanisms, which are of crucial importance for developing countries. The launch of the processes to develop SDGs and to define the format and organizational aspects of the proposed high level political forum to follow up on the implementation of sustainable development are the important contributions of this conference.

Vienna Convention / Rotterdam Convention / Stockholm Convention / Basel Convention

Vienna Convention

India became a Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of Ozone Layer on 19 June 1991 and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer on 17 September 1992. Consequently, it ratified the Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing Amendments in 2003. A detailed Country Programme for phasing out ozone depleting substances (ODSs) was prepared in 1993, supported by regulatory and fiscal measures as specified in the Montreal Protocol with financial and technical support received from the Multilateral Fund (MLF). The Ministry of Environment and Forests established an Ozone Cell and a steering committee on the Montreal Protocol to facilitate implementation of the India Country Programme for phasing out ODS (ozone depleting substances ) production by 2010.

Rotterdam Convention

One of the key conventions developed to protect countries from use of hazardous materials is the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in international Trade. This convention was signed in 1998 and became effective from 2004. It is a multilateral treaty to promote shared responsibilities in relation to import of hazardous chemicals. The Convention promotes open exchange of information and calls on exporters of Hazardous chemicals to use proper labeling. Include directions on safe handing, and inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans. India ratified the Convention on Prior informed Consent Procedure for certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International trade in 2006.

Basel Convention

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the most comprehensive global environmental agreement

Convention on international Trade In Endangered species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

Convention on international Trade In Endangered species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

India became a party to the CITES Convention in 1976. It hosted the 3^rd Conference of Parties at New Delhi in 1981. 

Trade in wild flora in wild flora and fauna, including the species listed in CITES are regulated in India through the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1971, the import and Export Policy and the Customs Act (1962). 

The wildlife (Protection) Act was designed with the objective of effective control of poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and its products. 

The Act has been amended in 1982, 1986, 1991, and 2002 and in 2006 to make the provisions more stringent. Hunting of all species was banned in 1991. 

Hunting of wild animals is prohibited except in exceptional circumstances, such as when rogue animals kill humans and destroy homes. 

India has signed a Protocol with Republic of China for taking up joint measures to crack down on poaching of tigers. 

Smuggling and selling to tiger body parts and their derivatives. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with Nepal to establish a Joint Task Force to check Trafficking across borders as well.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

India became a signatory to the Convention on biological Diversity (CBD) in December 1993 and ratified the convention in February 1994. 

CBD addresses biodiversity conservation, habitat preservation, intellectual property rights, bio-safety, and indigenous peoples’ rights. Since India signed the agreement, it has been submitting regularly its reports to the CBD Secretariat on the progress of implementation of the decisions taken by successive Conference of Parties (COP) meetings. 

In the recent meetings held in Nagoya in 2010, the parties (COP) meetings. In the recent meetings held in Nagoya in 2010, the parties (including India) successfully concluded the Nagoya Protocol on Access to genetic Resources and the fair and Equitable sharing of Benefits (ABS). 

Under the Protocol, Parties will be legally obliged to follow rules designed to prevent bio-piracy and provide benefits, including financial benefits, to other Parties when their genetic resources are accessed. 

United Nations convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD)

United Nations convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD)

The convention came into effect in 1997 and all member countries affected by the problem of desertification have an obligation to prepare an action plan to address all issues concerning desertification and drought. 

Eradication of poverty is key concern in dry lands; hence, it is important to protect the land form deforestation, fragmentation, degradation and drought that could exacerbate the vulnerabilities of the population in these areas. 

India has been designated as the host country by the UNCCD for the Asian Regional Action Programme on Agro forestry and soil Conservation, under the 

Thematic Network Programme (TPN). This network facilitates cooperation between countries with respect to combating desertification and associated efforts towards joint forestry management. Including forestry in the arid and semi-arid regions. 

Two national level institutes, namely Arid Forest Research institute (AFRI ) and Central Arid Zone Research institute (CAZRI) located in Jodhpur, are engaged in development and dissemination of appropriate technologies for the arid and semi- arid areas of the country.