India reduces emission intensity of its GDP by 24 percent between 2005-16 : MoS Choubey

New Delhi: Union Minister of state for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Ashwini Kumar Choubey said that that between 2005 and 2016, India reduced the emission intensity of its GDP by 24 per cent

The Minister responded in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, “Despite having no binding obligation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), India announced its voluntary goal to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 20-25 percent by 2020 in comparison to 2005 level.

He stated that the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which offers a comprehensive political framework for all climate-related initiatives, is being implemented by the government.
“33 States and Union Territories have prepared State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) consistent with the objectives of NAPCC”  he said.       

NAPCC comprises of eight core Missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, sustaining Himalayan ecosystems, Green India, sustainable agriculture and strategic knowledge for climate change. 

Talking about air pollution in the county, Choubey  said, Under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), City Specific Clean Air Action Plans have been prepared and rolled out for implementation in 132 non-attainment and million plus cities. 

He said that the government also supports the 10-Year Framework Programme on Sustainable Consumption and Production, for which Ministry had published draft notification of regulation on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and ‘Guidelines on the EPR for Plastic Packaging’ under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 has been notified.

Recently the ministry has put ban on Single Use Plastics to make the environment healthier.      

Over the clean beach initiative, he informed that  a total 10 beaches situated in 6 States and 3 Union Territories have been developed at par with best international beaches with safety and ecologically sustainable infrastructure.

Choubey informed that a recent study  by the ministry and  National Center for Coastal Research  indicated that  the plastic litter from tourism varies from 40% to 96%. 
“As per the studies conducted by MoEF&CC and MoES, most of the harbors and beaches have high beach litter” he said in the Upper house. 

He also assured the members of the house that the government has formulated policies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to mitigate the effect of Climate Change and build Sustainable cities and communities.