India's Progress and Plan of Action in Addressing Climate Change and Its Role in Setting an Effective, Cooperative and Equitable Climate Policy Architecture

Much of climate actions and framing of state action plans to mitigate the adverse effect of climate change has been driven by international targets and obligations. The framing of national action plans was triggered by international negotiations, even though right up to the 1990s, climate action was not a domestic priority. India has maintained its stance of equity and historical emission burden at different climate negotiations. With extreme weather anomalies, climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water, energy and health are going to face several challenges. This paper positions the climate change policy of India with respect to its various national and state action plans and outlines its role in setting effective, cooperative and equitable climate policy architecture. Transition to a low-carbon economy is seen as a challenge for India, as it seeks to balance its developmental needs with concerns for climate change. The way forward poses both challenges and offers opportunities for a low-carbon led growth. In tackling the climate change scenarios, the paper outlines many opportunities that can also contribute to wider development goals. These include building climate resilient infrastructure, improving intersect oral organisation, resource planning and framing state policies and programmes that mainstream climate risks.