environmental challenges, emerging trends and … challenges, emerging trends and recent initiatives...
TRANSCRIPT
Environmental Challenges, Emerging Trends and
Recent Initiatives – An Over view
Dr. G.V. Subrahmanyam
Advisor
Ministry of Environment & Forests
Government of India
Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Complex, Lodi Road,
New Delhi – 110 0014
16th May, 2014
Environmental Ethics in India
• Ancient philosophy
• Respect for environment
• Tribals and adivasis
• Living in harmony with nature
• Cultural practices and knowledge systems
• Nurture biodiversity
• No accumulation of waste
• Human being – one of the species – ecosystem
• Human being – dominant species
• Accumulation of waste- environmental degradation
• Conflict with nature
• Prakruti and Purush – harmony
• No single species encroach over other species
• Indian culture - compassion for animate and inanimate
Contd…Environmental Ethics in
India
Environmental Challenges
• Balancing economic development with
conservation of environment and forests
• Biotic pressures : population and urban
growth, changing life styles, waste
management
• Limited Environmental Infrastructure
• Strengthening Compliance and Enforcement
• Restoring Ecosystems; protecting wildlife
• Finance and Technologies 4
Trends
• Inter-sectorality : Mainstreaming Environment
• Institutional and Regulatory Build-up
• Mixed Success in Environmental Protection
• Renewed Impetus to Scientific Base
• Wide Differential in Technology Adoption
• Corporate Responsibility and Accountability
• Growing International Obligations
• Increasing Civil Society and Media Engagement
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Recent Initiatives
• National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)
• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)
• Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management
And Planning Authority (CAMPA)
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
• National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC)
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National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• NGT Act Notified in June, 2010.
• Original & Appellate Jurisdiction - Seven Legislations
• To Settle Civil Environmental Disputes to Award
Compensation to the Victims of Pollution on
Substantial Questions Relating to Environment
• Specialized Body - Judicial and Technical Members
• Wide Locus to Approach Tribunal
• Effective and Expeditious Disposal of Cases
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• Set up in February, 2009 Chaired by PM
• Empowered under EPA, Joint Centre-State
Structure, strong presence of civil society
• Holistic approach Flow augmentation and
Development of river basin management plan
• Mission Clean Ganga; No untreated waste water
to be discharged into the river
• World Bank Project under preparation
National Ganga River Basin Authority
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• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification
was issued in February, 1991 for
conservation and protection of coastal areas
• Notification regulates activities requiring
water front and foreshore facilities
• CRZ Notification, 2011 issued
Coastal Area Conservation
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Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management
and Planning Authority (CAMPA)
• Constituted by Supreme Court order of 30.10.2002
for Afforestation, protection and conservation of
Forests & Wildlife
• Fund created with receipts against diversion of
forest land for non-forestry purpose
• Fund reserve of Rs.16,358 crore as on August 20,
2010
• Annual release of funds to States / UTs, based on
Annual Plan of Operation (APO)
• Monitoring of CAMPA fund utilization by web-
based technology
National Tiger Conservation Authority • Project Tiger launched in 1973 as a centrally sponsored
programme to support the states for better protection of tigers
• 39 Tiger Reserves now in 17 States covering an area of around
32000 sq kms
• The forests / tiger habitats are under the State /UT government
ownership and management
• National Tiger Conservation Authority constituted in 2006,
through amendment in Wildlife (Protection) Act, for implementing
the urgent recommendations of the Tiger Task Force
• Population of tigers now estimated at 1411, as per All India tiger
estimation, conducted by Wildlife Institute of India and NTCA,
using refined methodologies
• Funding support to States for village relocation/rehabilitation
package for people living in core or critical tiger habitats
increased from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 10 lakhs/family inter alia various
conservation measures 11
• TRENDS IN AIR POLLUTION : PM10 – Major Pollutant and NOx –
Emerging Pollutant
• SOURCES : Industry, Construction, Transportation, Domestic &
Biomass Burning
• MONITORING NETWORK (427 Manual Station + 48 Continuous)
• ACTIONS TAKEN :
Industry / Process Specific Emission Standards
Revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards : 12 Pollutants
Source Apportionment Studies in six cities
SC Orders in 2002 & 2003 : City Specific Action Plans for 17 cities
Cleaner fuels
Air Quality Management
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The River Ganga
• Ganga: the largest river basin; spread over 11
states, (43% population), 2525 km main stem
• Challenges
− Treatment capacity deficit; 12,000 mld domestic
wastewater (only 1/3rd treated)
− Industrial pollution; weak compliance
− Non-point sources of pollution (e.g. littering)
− Competing demands: diminishing flows
Water Quality Threats
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Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
The CBD provides for:
• Conservation of Biodiversity
• Sustainable use of Biodiversity and leaving
• Enough for the future generation
• Fair and equitable share of profits arising out of
the use of Biodiversity
Implementation of obligations
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002
• Biological Diversity Rules, 2004
• National Biological Authority, Chennai 14
National Biodiversity Authority
Established under the Bio-diversity Act,2002
A three-tiered structure at the national, State and local level:
• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
• State Biodiversity Board (SBB)
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)
NBA deals with requests from foreign individual companies
and institutions
SBB deals with requests from Indians
BMCs are consulted by NBA and SSB on all matters on
biological resources/knowledge within their jurisdictions
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Judicial Initiatives in Environment • 1986 - Principle of „absolute liability‟ in hazardous units
• 1991 - Right to life under Article 21 includes the right of enjoyment of
pollution-free water and air
• 1996 - Polluter pays principle, precautionary principle and principle of
sustainable development held as integral part of law of the land
• 1999/2000 - Need for separate Environmental Courts and Law
Commission asked to undertake study
• Landmark judgment in T. N. Godaverman case dated 12/12/1996
• 2000/2002 - Diversion of forest land for non forest use attracts
provisions of Forest (Conservation Act), 1980. Central Empowered
Committee set up thereafter
• 2000/2006 – Restrictions on mining and other activities within and
around NP/WLS, Supreme Court approval required
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Global Dimensions
MoEF – Nodal Ministry for Multilateral
Environmental Agreements under four
major cluster namely:
•Nature Conservation e.g. CBD, Biosafety
•Hazardous Material e.g. POPs, PICs,
Basel
•Atmospheric Emissions
– UNCCC
– Montreal
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Chemicals & Hazardous Wastes Conventions
• Basel (1992) / Rotterdam (2001) / Stockholm
(2004) Conventions
• Dealing with Transboundary Movement of
Hazardous Wastes and Chemicals
Main Issues
• Aligning Domestic Legislation with Conventions.
• Balancing Environmental, Health and Economic
Imperatives
• Regulating illegal traffic of chemicals & wastes.
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Ozone and Montreal Protocol • The Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone
layer is one of the most successful Multilateral Environmental
Agreements (MEAs) with universal ratification
• It is also an example of successful global cooperation between
North and South
• The Protocol has helped in protecting the Ozone Layer which
acts as an umbrella to filter harmful UV-B radiations from the
Sun
• The protection of Ozone Layer has considerable impact on
human health and environment particularly protection from skin
cancer, eye cataract and weakening of immune system
• India has phased-out the consumption and production of major
Ozone Depleting Substances(ODS) such as CFCs, CTCs and
Halons as on 01-01-2010 as per Montreal Protocol Schedule 19
Climate Change • UNFCCC - a soft framework convention does not
provide for definite reduction commitments of
industrialized countries
• Kyoto commitment period is up to 2012
• Emissions of developing countries are growing
• Pressure on emerging economies
• Accordingly emphasis is on –
– Enhancing Energy Efficiency
– Devising low carbon pathways for Sustainable
Development
– Reduction of Uncertainties in Assessments
– Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA)
– National Carbonaceous Aerosols Programme 20
National Action Plan on Climate Change
Missions
• Solar Mission
• Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
• Mission on Sustainable Habitat
• Water Mission
• Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
• Mission for a “Green India”
• Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
• Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
Institutional Arrangement for Implementation
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India has more than 70 million hectares under Forest Cover
India added around 3mn hectares of forest and tree cover during the
last decade.
Forests neutralize ~11% of India‟s GHG emissions.
India is one of the 17 megadiverse countries with 4 global
biodiversity hotspots.
200 million people are dependent on forests for livelihood in
India.
Conserving, expanding and improving the quality of our forests is a
major national priority. This has enormous domestic and transnational
mitigation benefits in the context of climate change.
INDIA’S FORESTS: A RICH NATURAL HERITAGE
WHAT ARE REDD AND REDD+?
REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation)
Global endeavour to create an incentive for developing countries to
protect, better manage and save their forest resources, thus contributing to the
global fi ght against climate change
REDD+ goes beyond merely checking deforestation and forest
degradation,and includes incentives for positive elements of conservation,
sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
o Creating a financial value for the carbon stored and enhanced in
biomass and soil of standing forests.
o Countries that reduce emissions and undertake sustainable
management of forests will be entitled to receive funds and resources
as incentives.
o REDD+ approach incorporates important benefi ts of livelihoods
improvement, biodiversity conservation and food security services.
BENEFITS OF REDD+
The incentives received from REDD+ would be passed to the local
communities involved in protection and management of the forests. This
will ensure sustained protection of our forests against deforestation.
It is estimated that a REDD+ programme for India could provide capture
of more than 1 billion tonnes of additional CO2 over the next 3 decades
and provide more than USD 3 billion as carbon service incentives under
REDD+.
MAJOR INITIATIVE UNDER REDD AND REDD+
Green India Mission programme under its National Action Plan on Climate
Change
GREEN INDIA MISSION
to increase forest and tree cover in 5 m ha and improve quality
of forest cover in another 5 million ha.
Mission will help in improving ecosystem services in 10 million
ha of land
Increasing quality of forest cover and improving provision of
ecosystem goods and services
Enhancing biodiversity, restoring ecosystems and habitat
diversity.
Certification of energy savings that could be traded in energy-intensive
large industries and facilities
Promoting shift to energy efficient appliances in designated sectors
through affordable innovative measures
Developing fiscal instruments to promote energy efficiency.
National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
National Mission for Sustainable Habitat
Focus on energy efficiency in buildings, management of solid waste
and mass transport
National Solar Mission
To increase the share of solar energy in the total energy mix
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge
for Climate Change
Funding of high quality and focused research into various aspects of
climate change
The Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA)
Impacts of climate change on four sectors – water resources, agriculture,
forests and human health – in four critical regions of India – the Himalayan
region, North east, Western Ghats and Coastal India
INCCA is a network comprising 127 research institutions tasked with
undertaking research on the science of climate change and its impacts on
different sectors of the economy across the various regions of India.
Launch of Indian satellite to monitor GHG emissions by 2013
Pursuing accelerated social and economic development
while ensuring adaptation and mitigation actions through the
implementation of National Action Plan on Climate
Change.
Way forward
• National Environmental Sciences Fellows
Programme
• Global Advisory Network Group on
Environmental Sciences
• Expert Committee to Strengthen the Scientific
Capacity of MoEF
• Action Plan to enhance Forestry Science
• Indian Network for Climate Change
Assessment
• GIS based Natural Resources Management for
Environment, Forests and Coastal Areas
Impetus to Science
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Science Application for Policy
• Controlling Vehicular Pollution - Identifying cleaner auto fuels and setting emission standards
• Identifying critically polluted areas for regulating Industries
• Source apportionment for prioritizing pollution Control Efforts
• Co-processing for waste management
• Evolving environmentally sound technologies for application in highly polluting industries
• Eco-restoration technologies to reclaim mined out areas
• Development of health centric standards for different sources and ambient environment under the EP Act.
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Action Oriented Research
Four success stories of ecosystem redevelopment through
restoration technologies developed by the Centre of
Excellence Programme at Delhi University
• Restoration of limestone mined out area at Bhatta in
Mussorie Hills to subtropical semi evergreen forest
• Restoration of limestone mined out area at Lambidhar in
Mussorie Hills to meadows
• Restoration of morrum mined out area at Bhatti in Delhi
to a mosaic of dry deciduous forest and grassland
• Restoration of desertified landscape at Asola in Delhi to
a mosaic of Acacia woodland and grassland
Anticipating Pollution for Planning
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) for
Environment Management
•EIA : A tool for predicting pollution from industrial
activities
•Re-engineered EIA Notification, 2006 for further
streamlining of appraisal process
•Incorporates necessary environmental safeguards at
planning stage
•Involves stakeholders participation during Public
Consultation Process
•Identifies Developmental Projects based on Impact
Potential 40
Anticipating Pollution for Planning
EMP helps in
• Optimization of resource utilization
• Minimization of emissions and waste
generation
• Recycling and reuse of waste
• Promotion of energy efficiency technologies
• Addressing Social Issues
• Estimation of Environmental Mitigation cost
for pollution control 41