Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission

Tamil Nadu recently became the first state in India to launch its own climate change mission. The objective of the mission is to make Tamil Nadu a “climate smart state”.

What are the key highlights of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission Document?

• The Tamil Nadu Government has proposed 13 goals for the climate change mission, along with 11 focal areas for climate action as part of the Tamil Nadu State Action Plan on Climate Change 2.0 (TNSAPCC 2.0). The first version of the TNSAPCC was implemented in 2015 based on the National Action Plan for Climate Change for 2015-2020. It was revised based on the recommendation by the Central Government, involving the creation of new short term plans for 2023 and long term plans up to 2030.
• The climate change mission document emphasized that climate change is an undisputed reality having severe impact on the natural environment, human lives, economic assets and activities.
• It underlined the fact that Tamil Nadu accounts for 172.83 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (MtCO2e) out of the 2953 MtCO2e emissions at the national level, with the power sector accounting for 67 percent of the MtCO2e.
• The mission document provided a comprehensive study of climate risks and their impacts based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Tamil Nadu. It revealed that Ariyalur is the most vulnerable district to climate risks because of high sensitivity and low adaptive capability. Other districts vulnerable to climate risk are Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thiruvarur, Thiruvallur, Thanjavur, Perambalur, Pudukottai, and Thiruvannamalai.
• It has several key goals, including the 10-year goal to enhance the green cover in the state from 23.7 per cent to 33 per cent.
• It also seeks to create smarter infrastructure systems to minimise disasters and respond to them effectively.
• The document recognizes the vulnerability of women to the climate crisis and seeks to ensure gender-mainstreaming in climate action for women and children.
• It seeks to increase the understanding of climate change impact across different sectors of the society and how they are inter-related.
• It proposes adoption of the “one health approach” to climate change response and bring about deeper insights into its impacts on environment, animal and human health.
• The goals of the mission document cover aspects such as:

1. Promoting green technology to generate green jobs
2. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions using efficient public transport systems, clean and green energy, alternative fuel sources, and improved monitoring mechanisms.
3. Bringing in eco-alternative solutions to single use plastic
4. Promoting sustainable practices for the disposal of solid waste, including sewage, e-waste, bio-medical waste etc.

• The mission document calls for the effective utilization of expertise and experience of universities, research agencies and academic institutions involved in the climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• It also recommends the incorporation of climate courses in curricula.
• While recognising the high cost of climate action, the document seeks to augment resources from various funding options like the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) and Green Climate Fund (GCF).

What are the expected outcomes of the Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission?

1. Framing of specific climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
2. Identification of vulnerable and eco-sensitive regions along Tamil Nadu’s coasts.
3. Protection of coastal regions, reduction of soil erosion, salinity control, and improvement of biodiversity.
4. Improving coastal defense with the help of mangroves
5. Solutions to improve the resilience to drought and shore protection through palmyrah and cashew plantations.
6. Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to the promotion of energy-efficient technologies.
7. Increased understanding of climate risks to generate local assistance for decision-making.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2022