Addressing Challenges in Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation in India

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Similar to global responses, in India there is greater attention towards mitigation through Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) than adaptation to climate change. Current felt-need is towards institutionalized response for mainstreaming mitigation concerns. While CDM is one of the response mechanism for mitigating climate change in reality it has seen major transactions and project activities across the world. In fact CDM is part of the emerging carbon market and aims to achieve sustainable development in developing countries and cost effective reduction of green house gases. CDM is expected to deliver sustainable development benefits including investments, technology transfer and contribution to poverty alleviation. But there are uncertainties regarding whether CDM Projects are additional and help to achieve global sustainable development. India acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in August 2002 and one of the objectives of acceding was to fulfill prerequisites for implementation of Clean Development Mechanism (hereinafter referred to as CDM) projects, in accordance with national sustainable priorities (CDM India). A variety of CDM projects have been implemented in India which include renewable-like biomass, small hydro, wind, biogas etc; energy efficiency projects in a variety of manufacturing industries, such as cement, thermal power plants, and steel and aluminium. In 2005 India registered its first CDM project. Total number of CERs issued to date in India is 31,918,274 tonnes of CO2 and the expected average number of CERs is estimated to be 27,604,123 tonnes of CO2 annually. Sector wise and state wise 300 CDM projects have been registered in India (as January 3rd 2008). But not progress is seen for non CDM climate change mitigation and more importantly for addressing adaptation concerns. Unless a institutionalized mechanism is evolved to mainstream climate change mitigation the costs of inaction could be enormously high. This paper assesses current Indian context and evaluates the options of institutionalized response for mainstreaming Climate change mitigation concerns.

Stream: Technical, Political and Social Responses

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

THILOTHAM R. KOLANU, M.Phil in Power Sector, M.A. Political Science. Currently working as Area Chairman-Environment at Centre for Energy Environment, Urban Governance & Infrastructure Development, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad since 1998. Prior to this he has worked for Environmental NGO (CRE & IFOAM). Area of Specialization: Natural Resources Management, Environmental Management and Risk Assessment of Projects, Plans, Programmes and Policies. He has specialization in Natural Resource Management. Has 12 years experience in the area of environmental management & natural resources management. Worked in a number of policy assignment sponsored by MoEF, MNES, DSIR, DST, Government of India; Government of UP, Government of Andhra Pradesh etc and International organizations such as World Bank, UNDP, UNIDO, and British High Commission etc. He has been conducting training programmes on Environmental Management, Advanced EMS Auditing Programme, Energy Conservation and Management, Environmental Regulations & Compliance, Environmental Economics. He has trained industrial executives, NGOs, Judicial Officers, Research Scientists, senior and middle level government officers. in the area of resource management. He has carried out State of Environment Reports, Resource Optimization studies for Pollution Control Boards, Research Management Plans, Waste Minimization Studies and Clean Technology, and Feasibility Studies for Establishing Environmental Institute etc. He has 42 publications to his credit published and presented in various national and international journals as well as conferences.