The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) is a policy document prepared

by the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change. It has been prepared keeping in
mind that India's economic need to tap its natural resources needs to be tempered with the
need to maintain ecological balance.
The NAPCC is guided by the principles of -
Protection - of the poor and vulnerable sections of society through what is termed as
an inclusive development strategy,
Achieving national growth - through a qualitative change and economic direction that
enhances ecological sustainability,
Demand side management
Better technology - that looks into aspects of mitigation or adaptation,
Market mechanism - that rewards sustainable development,
Inclusivity- that invites linkups with civil society and local government institutions

It was found necessary to establish eight national missions which not only espouse to
these principles but will form the core of the overall national mission. The technical
document, which forms part of the NAPCC, discusses the way forward for each of these
missions.
These missions are:
1.The National Solar Mission aims to increase share of solar energy in India's energy
mix. This is to be done by not only increasing R & D efforts but also by promoting
decentralised distribution of energy by creating cheaper and more convenient solar
systems.
2.The National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency builds on the 2001 Energy
Conservation Act. This mission will look at ways to create a market based mechanism to
enhance cost effectiveness of improvements on energy efficiency.
3.The National Mission on Sustainable Habitat has a manifold agenda. It looks at
energy efficiency within buildings and also at waste disposal from these buildings.
Another important aspect of this mission is to better the public transport system.
4.The National Mission on Water will be mounted to ensure better integrated water
resource management. This would lead to water conservation, less wastage of water,
equitable distribution of water.
5.The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem has been created, to
protect the Himalayan ecosystem.
6.The National Mission for a Green India has the mandate of reviving degraded forest
land. It will focus on increasing forest cover and density and conserving biodiversity.
7.The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture will devise strategies to make
Indian agriculture less susceptible to climate change.
8.The National Mission for Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change will identify
challenges and requisite responses to climate change. This will be done through open
international collaboration and would ensure sufficient funding for this research.

As per the NAPCC, each mission comes under a ministry and these missions will have an
institutional set up. The missions will have to determine objectives spanning the 11th and
12th plan periods.