Climate Change and India: Paris Agreement, NAPCC, NDC, ISA, CDRI

Climate change policy is increasingly important in Kerala PSC exams. Questions focus on India’s international commitments, national missions, and renewable energy targets. Expect 1-3 questions at Graduate Level.

1. Paris Agreement (2015)

Aspect	Detail
Adopted	12 December 2015 at COP21, Paris
Entered into force	4 November 2016
Goal	Limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels; pursue 1.5 degrees Celsius
India ratified	2 October 2016 (Gandhi Jayanti)
Parties	196 parties (nearly universal)
Mechanism	Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) — each country sets own targets
Review cycle	Global Stocktake every 5 years (first in 2023)
Replaces	Kyoto Protocol’s top-down approach with bottom-up pledges

Key Principle: Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) — developed countries bear greater responsibility.

2. India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)

Updated NDC (August 2022)

Target	Detail
Emissions intensity reduction	45% reduction in GDP emissions intensity by 2030 (from 2005 levels)
Non-fossil fuel energy	50% cumulative electric power from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030
Carbon sink	Additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through forest cover
Net Zero target	2070 (announced by PM at COP26, Glasgow, 2021)

Original NDC (2016)

Target	Timeline
33–35% emissions intensity reduction	By 2030 (from 2005 levels)
40% non-fossil fuel power capacity	By 2030
Additional 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO2 carbon sink	By 2030

3. National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

Aspect	Detail
Launched	30 June 2008 (by PM Manmohan Singh)
Number of missions	8 National Missions
Nodal ministry	Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

The 8 National Missions

No.	Mission	Nodal Ministry	Key Focus
1	National Solar Mission (Jawaharlal Nehru)	MNRE	100 GW solar by 2022 (revised to 300 GW by 2030)
2	National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency	Power Ministry	PAT scheme, energy trading
3	National Mission on Sustainable Habitat	MoHUA	Green buildings, urban transport, waste management
4	National Water Mission	Jal Shakti Ministry	20% water use efficiency improvement
5	National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem	MoEFCC	Glacier monitoring, biodiversity conservation
6	National Mission for a Green India	MoEFCC	5 million hectares afforestation
7	National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture	Agriculture Ministry	Climate-resilient agriculture, dryland farming
8	National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change	DST	Research network, climate modelling

Mnemonic for 8 Missions: “Solar Energy Sustains Water, Himalaya Green Agriculture Knowledge” (SE-SW-HGAK)

4. International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Aspect	Detail
Launched	30 November 2015 at COP21 Paris (by PM Modi and French President Hollande)
Headquarters	Gurugram, Haryana, India
Treaty-based organisation	Yes (entered into force December 2017)
Initial membership	Countries between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
Current membership	120+ member countries (expanded beyond tropics in 2020)
Objective	Mobilise USD 1 trillion investment in solar energy by 2030
First Assembly	October 2018, New Delhi
Key programmes	One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), Solar rooftop, affordable finance

5. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

Aspect	Detail
Launched	23 September 2019 at UN Climate Action Summit, New York (by PM Modi)
Headquarters	New Delhi, India
Type	International partnership (not treaty-based)
Members	40+ countries including US, UK, Australia, Japan
Objective	Build resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks
Key programme	Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) — launched at COP26

6. India’s Renewable Energy Targets

Source	Target	Status (approx.)
Solar	300 GW by 2030	~80 GW installed (2024)
Wind	140 GW by 2030	~46 GW installed
Total non-fossil	500 GW by 2030	~200 GW installed
Green Hydrogen Mission	5 MMT annual production by 2030	Launched January 2023
Ethanol blending	E20 (20% ethanol in petrol) by 2025-26	~15% achieved

7. Key Climate Change Institutions in India

Institution	Role
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)	Nodal ministry for climate policy
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)	Renewable energy targets
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)	Energy efficiency standards, star labelling
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)	Climate monitoring, weather forecasting
National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)	Disaster preparedness
Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)	Policy research (think tank)

8. Important Climate Conferences (COP)

COP	Year	Location	Key Outcome
COP21	2015	Paris	Paris Agreement adopted
COP26	2021	Glasgow	India’s 2070 Net Zero pledge; Glasgow Climate Pact
COP27	2022	Sharm el-Sheikh	Loss and Damage Fund established
COP28	2023	Dubai	First Global Stocktake; “transition away from fossil fuels”

9. India’s Climate Vulnerabilities

Region/Sector	Key Risk
Coastal areas (Kerala included)	Sea level rise, cyclone intensity increase
Himalayan region	Glacial melt, GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods)
Agriculture	Monsoon variability, heat stress on crops
Water resources	Groundwater depletion, river flow changes
Urban areas	Urban heat islands, flooding
Health	Vector-borne diseases, heat-related mortality

10. Exam-Oriented Quick Recall

Question	Answer
Paris Agreement adopted at which COP?	COP21 (2015)
India ratified Paris Agreement on?	2 October 2016
India’s Net Zero target year?	2070
How many missions in NAPCC?	8
ISA headquarters?	Gurugram, Haryana
CDRI launched at?	UN Climate Action Summit 2019, New York
India’s non-fossil power target (2030)?	50% of cumulative installed capacity
Updated NDC emissions intensity reduction?	45% by 2030 (from 2005 baseline)
What does CBDR stand for?	Common But Differentiated Responsibilities
National Green Hydrogen Mission target?	5 MMT per year by 2030
First country to launch ISA?	India (with France)
Loss and Damage Fund agreed at?	COP27, Sharm el-Sheikh (2022)