The India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) provides an integrated vision towards cooling across sectors encompassing, inter alia, reduction of cooling demand, refrigerant transition, enhancing energy efficiency and better technology options by 2037-38 through forging synergies with on-going programmes/ schemes of the Government.

New Delhi (ABC Live): India submitted its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) on Monday.

It is to mention that the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy was launched by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, who is leading the Indian delegation to COP 27, being held at Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt from 6-18 November, 2022.

India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy submitted to UNFCCC at COP27 outlines India’s adaptation strategies as under;

Adaptation actions and priorities

India is undertaking a variety of adaptation actions across sectors and scales. A brief account of India’s current adaptation actions and goals are presented in India’s first NDC and its Third Biennial Update Report to the UNFCCC.

Following are a sample list of key actions (policies, missions, plans, and projects) is presented below as part of India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy.

National Action Plan on Climate Change: National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for a Green India, National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.

Agriculture : Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), National Agroforestry Policy (NAP), National Crop Insurance Programme, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).

Water: Namami Gange programme, Jal Jeevan Mission, National Water Policy.

Disaster Management: National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), National Disaster Relief Fund, National Disaster Management Authority.

Health: National Action Plan on Climate Change and Health

Coastal Regions and Islands: Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Coastal Regulation Zones/Island Protection Regulations, Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme.

Ecosystems: Schemes for conservation of corals and mangroves; Wetlands (aquatic ecosystems).

Cities: Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Smart Cities Mission, National Mission for Sustainable Habitat.

Sub-national action: State Action Plans on Climate Change, Heat Action Plans in leading cities, Tripura Forest Environmental Improvement and Poverty Alleviation Project, Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission.

Cross-cutting: National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, India Cooling Action Plan, National Green Highways Mission.

Alongside actions by the Indian State across scales, various stakeholders participate in delivering adaptation in practice through adaptation projects and local initiatives. The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) was established to support adaptation activities in the States and Union Territories (UTs) of India that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

The India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) provides an integrated vision towards cooling across sectors encompassing, inter alia, reduction of cooling demand, refrigerant transition, enhancing energy efficiency and better technology options by 2037-38 through forging synergies with on-going programmes/ schemes of the Government. The ICAP seeks to:

(i) Reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% - 25% by 2037-38;

 (ii) Reduce refrigerant demand by 25% - 30% by 2037-38;

(iii) Curtail cooling energy requirements by 25%-40% by 2037-38;

(iv) Recognize “cooling and related areas” as a thrust area of research under National S&T Programme;

(v) Organise training and certification of 100,000 servicing sector technicians by 2022-23, synergizing with Skill India Mission.

These actions will have significant climate benefits (PIB,2019).

To read the Complete India’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy click here