India: National action plan on climate change (NAPCC)

This document published by the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change (Government of India), aims at creating awareness among the representatives of the public, different agencies of the government, scientists, industry and the community as a whole, on the threat posed by climate change and the steps proposed at the level of India to counter these changes.

The document is guided by the following principles: (i) protecting the poor and vulnerable sections of society through an inclusive and sustainable development strategy, sensitive to climate change; (ii) achieving national growth through ecological sustainability; (iii) devising efficient and cost-effective strategies for end use Demand Side Management; (iv) deploying appropriate technologies for both adaptation and mitigation of greenhouse gases emissions; (v) engineering new and innovative forms of market, regulatory and voluntary mechanisms to promote sustainable development; (vi) effecting implementation of programmes by including civil society and local government institutions and through public- private partnership; and (vii) welcoming international cooperation for research, development, sharing and transfer of technologies

Eight National Missions form the core of the NAPCC, which represents a multi-pronged, long-term and integrated approach for achieving key goals in the context of climate change. These include: National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for a Green India, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.

The document describes India's willingness and desire, as a responsible member of the global community to cooperate in all efforts at climate change mitigation and argues that future international cooperation on climate change should aim at: (i) minimising the negative impacts of climate change through suitable adaptation methods; (ii) fairness and equity in action and measures; and (iii)common, but differentiated responsibilities in actions to be taken.