ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018 Impact Factor:3.

81

Climate Change vis-à-vis Sustainable Development

Prashant Rahangdale
Assistant Professor, Amity Law School, Auc Pursuing Ph.d(WB.NUJS, kolkatta) UGC NET qualified, LLM
(Criminal Law, BA.LL.B (5yrs.)

99 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018

 ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018
Abstract
Mother Nature has given us a green planet to
survive peacefully. But ecological misbalance and
change in climate has created a menace to
humankind. Greenhouse gases emission through
human activities has substantially increased the
atmospheric concentrations which lead to change in
climate. Further, impact of global warming has also
resulted in rise of average temperature of the Earth.
Moreover, in the race of rapid development,
various nations indulged into carbon emission. The
developing India is the fastest growing major
economy in the world. It is the fourth largest
greenhouse gas emitter, accounting for 5.8 percent
of global emissions. India‘s emissions increased by
67.1 percent between 1990 and 2012, and are
projected to grow 85 percent by 2030 under a
business-as-usual scenario15. On one hand there is
dire need of industrial growth and on other hand
there is an urge for sustainable development.
This research paper will focus on the most effective
way to address climate change to adopt a
sustainable development.
Keywords: Climate, Greenhouse Gases,
Sustainable development
Introduction
Today world is facing real challenge towards
climate change. It has become one of the most
prominent environmental issues which has not only
seek attention of developed and but also
developing economies. Every individual in this
planet has right live in pollution free environment.
However, by abhorrently exceed in fair use of
atmospheric resources, the industrialized countries
have caused climate change. It is pertinent to note
that the earth climate is dynamic in nature which
changes through a natural cycle. But now a day,
due to increase in human actives this cycle has
become unnatural. With increase in demand of
human articles and rapid industrial growth carbon
emission is increased. Also lack of love and care
15
https://www.c2es.org/docUploads/india-factsheet-
formatted-10-2015.pdf
100 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018
Impact Factor:3.81
towards nature has created a chaotic situation
which has given rise to environment pollution.
Before moving further we must understand what
exactly Climate Change is. Climate change may be
referred as variation in the Earth‘s global climate or
in territorial climates over a period of time. The
change may be due to human activity (directly or
indirectly) which alters the composition of the
global ambiance.
Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) established by United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) defined climate change as ―a
change in the state of the climate that can be
identified (e.g., using statistical tests) by changes in
the mean and/or variability of its properties, and
that persists for an extended period, typically
decades or longer. It refers to any change in climate
over time, whether due to natural variability or as a
result of human activity‖.
In other words we conclude that though climate
change is a natural phenomenon but due human
activities the natural cycle is accelerated.
Causes of Climate Change
Moving further, it is very much necessary that we
should understand the various factors which are
responsible for climate change. As per various
researches which have taken place in these areas,
scientists have found that climate change is a result
of both natural as well human activities. However,
it is pertinent to note that effects of these activities
are not instant but its upshots can be seen after a
year ago.
Natural Causes:
1. Continental drifts – One of the major natural
cause of climate change is Continental drifts and
movement of tectonic plates. Due to such massive
landmass or water-mass movement substantial
trait of the land and water bodies are majorly
affected in the region. One such continent on the
move is the Himalayan range which is rising with
every passing year, as a result of the Indian
landmass drifting towards the Asian landmass.
 ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018
This is an extremely slow process, but continues to
happen this very minute16.
2. Volcanic eruptions – Due to Volcanic eruptions
huge amount of sulphur dioxide, dirt, water vapor,
and ash into the earth‘s atmosphere which form a
thick coat and block solar radiation emitted from
the sun to enter into earth‘s surface. Because of
which earth‘s temperature cools down temporarily.
Moreover, sulphur dioxide combines with water to
forms sulphuric acid which blocks sunlight and
changes wind directions and pollute environment.
3. Ocean-atmospheric currents - Ocean currents
are also play considerable role in climate change.
As it dwell in close to earth‘s surface and receives
twofold the amount of earth‘s radiation when
contrast to the Earth‘s surface. The sturdy winds
which blow close to ocean‘s surface impinge on the
ocean currents and hugely affects ocean currents.
These factors are also responsible for climate
change in areas.
4. The Earth's tilt – The tilt in earth is a natural
phenomenon which gives rise to changes in
seasons. However, if earth tilts more then, summers
will be more warmer and if it tilts less, then winters
will be more cooler and vise versa. This gradual
change in the direction of the earth also causes
change in the climate.
Human activities:
Human activities also contribute to change in
climate. Due to rapid growth in industrial sector
jobs are created, however, this growth in industries
also pollutes environment. Moreover, due to
increase in population there is a vast need of open
land for human habitat, therefore, forest areas are
cut down to fulfill human need. All these human
activities have contributed to a rise in greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels such as oil,
coal and natural gas supply most of the energy
needed to run vehicles generate electricity for
16
http://www.all-recycling-facts.com/what-causes-
climate-change.html#ixzz4vAunxn1c
101 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018
Impact Factor:3.81
industries, households, etc. The energy sector is
responsible for about ¾ of the carbon dioxide
emissions, 1/5 of the methane emissions and a
large quantity of nitrous oxide. It also produces
nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO)
which is not greenhouse gases but do have an
influence on the chemical cycles in the atmosphere
that produce or destroy greenhouse gases.17
Greenhouses gases, such as carbon dioxide, trap
heat in the atmosphere and regulate our climate.
These gases exist naturally, but humans add more
carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels for energy
(coal, oil, and natural gas) and by clearing forests.
Greenhouse gases act like a blanket. The thicker
the blanket, the warmer our planet becomes. At the
same time, the Earth‘s oceans are also absorbing
some of this extra carbon dioxide, making them
more acidic and less hospitable for sea life.
The increase in global temperature is significantly
altering our planet‘s climate, resulting in more
extreme and unpredictable weather. For instance,
heat waves are becoming more frequent and many
places are experiencing record droughts followed
by intense rainfalls.18
Impact of Climate Change: Globally
The worse problem which the world is facing is
fighting the war against the impact of climate
change. The evil impact of climate change can be
seen in ecosystems, world economies and
communities. Average raise in temperature not only
make winters warmer but some continents
experience extreme hot temperature, while other
are cool. the increase in temperature could result in
sea-level rise by 0.5 to 1 meter by 2100, with
higher levels also possible, affecting some of the
most highly vulnerable cities located in
Mozambique, Madagascar, Mexico, Venezuela,
India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines and
Vietnam19. The world's leading scientists report that
17
ibid
18
https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/effects-of-
climate-change
19
Report prepared by the Potsdam Institute for
Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Climate
Analysts for the World Bank
 ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018
to prevent dangerous levels of global warming
governments should act to limit global warming to
less than 2ºC by taking concerted action to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions 20 . Further, tepid
atmosphere also resulted into sadistic storms and
hurricanes.
The visible sign of extreme climatic change cases
can be diagnose across Canada's diverse
geographic regions. These Canada's forests are
experiencing the most evil affects of in the global
climate change.
The bang of Climate change also affects human
health. The fact that the Earth has warmed over the
last century is unequivocal. Multiple observations of
air and ocean temperatures, sea level, and snow
and ice have shown these changes to be
unprecedented over decades to millennia. Human
influence has been the dominant cause of this
observed warming 21 . The 2014 U.S. National
Climate Assessment (2014 NCA) found that rising
temperatures, the resulting increases in the
frequency or intensity of some extreme weather
events, rising sea levels, and melting snow and ice
are already disrupting people‘s lives and damaging
some sectors of the U.S. economy 22 . Chronic
problem of asthma and boncatic is commonly seen
in not only children but also in older aged.
Climate change also affects world
economy. Its affect can be seen in various
dimensions. At one place it affects productivity of
land and in another it damage property and
infrastructure. Due to rise in sea level, floods and
20
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/climate-
change/science/impacts/impacts-of-climate-change/
21
IPCC, 2013: Climate Change 2013: The Physical
Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to
the Fifth Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 1535
pp., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
and New York, NY.
doi:10.1017/CBO9781107415324
22
Melillo, J. M., T. (T. C. ) Richmond, and G. W.
Yohe, eds., 2014: Climate Change Impacts in the
United States: The Third National Climate
Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research
Program, 841 pp.
102 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018
Impact Factor:3.81
droughts, massive repair is required essential
infrastructure such as homes, roads, bridges,
railroad tracks, airport runways, power lines, dams,
levees, and seawalls.
Disruptions in daily life related to climate change
can mean lost work and school days and harm
trade, transportation, agriculture, fisheries, energy
production, and tourism. Severe rainfall events and
snowstorms can delay planting and harvesting,
cause power outages, snarl traffic, delay air travel,
and otherwise make it difficult for people to go
about their daily business
Global warming is likely to increase the number of
"climate refugees"—people who are forced to leave
their homes because of drought, flooding, or other
climate-related disasters. Mass movements of
people and social disruption may lead to civil
unrest, and might even spur military intervention
and other unintended consequences.
Impact of Climate Change: Indian
perspective
Impact of climate change can also be seen in India.
From past few years we are experiencing extreme
heat which significantly effects agricultural growth.
Change in Rainfall Patterns and rise in 2°C average
world temperature cut offs monsoonal rainfall. This
resulted into incessant floods and droughts in
various states of India. Moreover, due to change in
climate we are experiencing droughts. In 1987 and
2002-2003, droughts affected more than half of
India‘s crop area and led to a huge fall in crop
production. Droughts are expected to be more
frequent in some areas, especially in north-western
India, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. Crop
yields are expected to fall significantly because of
extreme heat by the 2040s23.
India is highly dependent upon groundwater for its
agricultural production. Researches say that 15% of
groundwater is exploited due human causes.
Although it is difficult to predict future ground water
levels, falling water tables can be expected to
reduce further on account of increasing demand for
water from a growing population, more affluent life
23
http://cseindia.org/soebook/chapter24.html
 ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018
styles, as well as from the services sector and
industry.24
Indian glaciers in the northwestern Himalayas and
in the Karakoram range are melting due to global
warming. At 2.5°C warming, melting glaciers and
the loss of snow cover over the Himalayas are
expected to threaten the stability and reliability of
northern India‘s primarily glacier-fed rivers,
particularly the Indus and the Brahmaputra. The
Ganges will be less dependent on melt water due to
high annual rainfall downstream during the
monsoon season. The Indus and Brahmaputra are
expected to see increased flows in spring when the
snows melt, with flows reducing subsequently in
late spring and summer. Alterations in the flows of
the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers could
significantly impact irrigation, affecting the amount
of food that can be produced in their basins as well
as the livelihoods of millions of people (209 million
in the Indus basin, 478 million in the Ganges basin,
and 62 million in the Brahmaputra basin in the
year 2005)25.
Further, due to uneven temperature coastal floods
are also increasing. Kolkata and Mumbai, both
densely populated cities, are particularly vulnerable
to the impacts of sea-level rise, tropical cyclones,
and riverine flooding.
Climate change is expected to have major
health impacts in India- increasing malnutrition
and related health disorders such as child stunting
- with the poor likely to be affected most severely.
Child stunting is projected to increase by 35% by
2050 compared to a scenario without climate
change. Malaria and other vector-borne diseases,
along with and diarrheal infections which are a
major cause of child mortality, are likely to spread
into areas where colder temperatures had
previously limited transmission. Heat waves are
likely to result in a very substantial rise in mortality
24
https://widevisions.in/2017/08/13/4-most-adverse-
effects-of-climate-change-in-your-life/
25
https://climatechangecourse.wordpress.com/2015/
11/30/continued-climate-change-impact-on-india-
groundwater-depletion-glacier-melt/
103 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018
Impact Factor:3.81
and death, and injuries from extreme weather
events are likely to increase26.
Climate Change: Global response
1. UN Conference on Human Environment,
Stockholm (1972): In 1972, the United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment
(UNCHE) was convened to address issues
concerning the environment and sustainable
development. UNCHE, also known as the
Stockholm Conference, linked environmental
protection with sustainable development. The
Stockholm Conference also produced concrete
ideas on how governments could work together to
preserve the environment. The concepts and plans
developed by the Stockholm Conference have
shaped every international conference and treaty
on the environment over the last 35 years27.
2. United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (Rio de
Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992) - In Rio, 172
Governments -108 represented by heads of State
or Government- adopted three major agreements
to guide future approaches to development:
Agenda 21, a global plan of action to promote
sustainable development; the Rio Declaration on
Environment and Development, a series of
principles defining the rights and responsibilities of
States; and the Statement of Forest Principles, a
set of principles to underpin the sustainable
management of forests worldwide. In addition,
two legally binding instruments were opened for
signature at the Summit: the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and
the Convention on Biological Diversity. Moreover,
negotiations began on the Convention to Combat
Desertification, which was opened for signature in
26
https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/english/business
+world-epaper
bizworld/how+will+climate+change+impact+indi
a+and+what+can+be+done-newsid-73005580
27
http://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/energ
y-government-and-defense-magazines/united-
nations-conference-human-environment-1972
 ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018
October 1994 and entered into force in December
199628.
3. UN Convention on Climate Change, New
York (1992): The long-term objective of the
Convention and its related legal instruments is ―to
achieve […] the stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that
would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system‖ (article 2).
Climate change is defined by the Convention as
―change of climate which is attributed directly or
indirectly to human activity that alters the
composition of the global atmosphere and which is
in addition to natural climate variability observed
over comparable time periods‖ (article 1 (2)) 29
4. Kyoto Protocol (1997):
The Convention took effect in 1994, and by 1995
governments had begun negotiations on a protocol
-- an international agreement linked to the existing
treaty, but standing on its own. The text of the
Kyoto Protocol was adopted unanimously in 1997;
it entered into force on 16 February 2005. The
Protocol's major features are30:
 Mandatory targets on greenhouse-gas emissions
for the world's leading economies which have
accepted it.
 Commitments under the Protocol vary from nation
to nation.
 Flexibility in how countries may meet their targets.
 The Protocol not only has to be an effective against
a complicated worldwide problem -- it also has to
be politically acceptable.
 There is a delicate balance to international treaties.
 Some mechanisms of the Protocol had enough
support that they were set up in advance of the
Protocol's entry into force.
28
http://www.un.org/en/development/devagenda/sust
ainable.shtml
29
http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/ccc/ccc.html
30
http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/background/items/2
879.php
104 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018
Impact Factor:3.81
5. World Summit on Sustainable
Development, Johannesburg (2002) -
Johannesburg Summit 2002 - the World Summit
on Sustainable Development - brought together
tens of thousands of participants, including heads
of State and Government, national delegates and
leaders from non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), businesses and other major groups to
focus the world's attention and direct action
toward meeting difficult challenges, including
improving people's lives and conserving our
natural resources in a world that is growing in
population, with ever-increasing demands for
food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health
services and economic security.31
6. Copenhagen Summit (2009): A new political
accord struck by world leaders at the U.N. Climate
Change Conference in Copenhagen provides for
explicit emission pledges by all the major
economies – including, for the first time, China
and other major developing countries – but charts
no clear path toward a treaty with binding
commitments.
Key elements of the Copenhagen Accord include:
an aspirational goal of limiting global temperature
increase to 2 degrees Celsius; a process for
countries to enter their specific mitigation pledges
by January 31, 2010; broad terms for the
reporting and verification of countries‘ actions; a
collective commitment by developed countries for
$30 billion in ―new and additional‖ resources in
2010-2012 to help developing countries reduce
emissions, preserve forests, and adapt to climate
change; and a goal of mobilizing $100 billion a
year in public and private finance by 2020 to
address developing county needs. The accord
also calls for the establishment of a Copenhagen
Green Climate Fund, a High Level Panel to
examine ways of meeting the 2020 finance goal, a
31
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/milesstones/
wssd
 ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018
new Technology Mechanism, and a mechanism to
channel incentives for reduced deforestation32.
7. United Nations Climate Change
Conference, Doha, Qatar (2012)- At the 2012
UN Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar
(COP18/ CMP8), governments consolidated the
gains of the last three years of international climate
change negotiations and opened a gateway to
necessary greater ambition and action on all
levels. Among the many decisions taken,
governments:
 Strengthened their resolve and set out a
timetable to adopt a universal climate agreement
by 2015, which will come into effect in 2020.
 Streamlined the negotiations, completing the
work under the Bali Action Plan to concentrate on
the new work towards a 2015 agreement under a
single negotiating stream in the Ad hoc Working
Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced
Action (ADP).
 Emphasized the need to increase their ambition
to cut greenhouse gases (GHGs) and to help
vulnerable countries to adapt.
 Launched a new commitment period under the
Kyoto Protocol, thereby ensuring that this treaty's
important legal and accounting models remain in
place and underlining the principle that developed
countries lead mandated action to cut greenhouse
gas emissions.
 Made further progress towards establishing the
financial and technology support and new
institutions to enable clean energy investments
and sustainable growth in developing countries 33.
8. Paris Agreement (2016) - The Paris
Agreement builds upon the Convention and – for
the first time – brings all nations into a common
cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat
climate change and adapt to its effects, with
enhanced support to assist developing countries to
32
https://www.c2es.org/international/negotiations/cop-
15/summary
33
http://unfccc.int/key_steps/doha_climate_gateway/it
ems/7389.php
105 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018
Impact Factor:3.81
do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global
climate effort.
The Paris Agreement‘s central aim is to strengthen
the global response to the threat of climate change
by keeping a global temperature rise this century
well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial
levels and to pursue efforts to limit the
temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees
Celsius. Additionally, the agreement aims to
strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the
impacts of climate change. To reach these
ambitious goals, appropriate financial flows, a new
technology framework and an enhanced capacity
building framework will be put in place, thus
supporting action by developing countries and the
most vulnerable countries, in line with their own
national objectives. The Agreement also provides
for enhanced transparency of action and support
through a more robust transparency framework 34
Climate Change: Legal Framework in India
Constitutional Perspective:
Article 2135 of the Constitution.
The State's responsibility with regard to
environmental protection has been laid down
under Article 48-A36of our Constitution.
Environmental protection is a fundamental duty
of every citizen of this country under Article 51-A
(g)37 of our Constitution.
The State's responsibility with regard to raising
the level of nutrition and the standard of living and
34
http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php
35
Article 21 - No person shall be deprived of his life
or personal liberty except according to procedure
established by law.
36
Article 48A- Protection and improvement of
environment and safeguarding of forests and wild
life The State shall endeavour to protect and
improve the environment and to safeguard the
forests and wild life of the country.
37
Article 51A(g)- (g) to protect and improve the
natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers
and wild life, and to have compassion for living
creatures
 ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018
to improve public health has been laid down
under Article 4738 of the Constitution.
The 42nd amendment to the
Constitution was brought about in the year 1974
makes it the responsibility of the State Government
to protect and improve the environment and to
safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
The latter, under Fundamental Duties, makes it the
fundamental duty of every citizen to protect and
improve the natural environment including forests,
lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion
for living creatures.
The Subjects Related To
Environment In The Seventh Schedule Of The
Constitution:
Item Number 52 : Industries.
Item Number 53: Regulation and development
of oil fields and mineral oil resources.
Item Number 54: Regulation of mines and mineral
development.
Item Number 56: Regulation and development
of inter-State rivers and river valleys.
Item Number 57: Fishing and fisheries beyond
territorial waters.
Environmental Laws on Climate Change:
 Air protection
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
of 1981, No. 14, 29 March 1981, to provide for
the prevention, control and abatement of air
pollution.
The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and
Control) Rules, 17 July 2000, to enact rules for
regulating ozone depleting substances.
 Energy
The Energy Conservation Act of 2001, No. 52, 29
September 2001, to provide for efficient use of
energy and its conservation and for matters
38
Article 47- Duty of the State to raise the level of
nutrition and the standard of living and to improve
public health The State shall regard the raising of
the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its
people and the improvement of public health as
among its primary duties and, in particular, the
State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of
the consumption except for medicinal purposes of
intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious
to health
106 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018
Impact Factor:3.81
connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2010,
No. 28, 24 August 2010, to amend the Energy
Conservation Act of 2001
Electricity Act 2003, Amended 2007, to better
coordinate development of the power sector by
providing a comprehensive framework for power
development.
 Forests
The Indian Forest Act of 1927, No. 16, 21
September 1927, to consolidate the law relating to
forests, the transit of forest- produce and the duty
livable on timber and other forest- produce.
Forest Conservation Act of 1980, No. 69, 27
December 1980, to provide for the conservation
of forests and for matters connected therewith or
ancillary or incidental thereto.
 The Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,
amended 1999 The Wildlife (Protection Act)
Amendment Act, 2002, No. 16 of 2003, 17
January 2003, to provide for the protection of wild
animals, birds and plants and for matters
connected therewith or ancillary or incidental
thereto with a view to ensuring the ecological and
environmental security of the country.
 Biological Diversity Act, 2002, No. 18 of 2003, 5
February 2003, to provide for conservation of
biological diversity, sustainable use of its
components and fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising out of the use of biological
resources, knowledge and for matters connected
therewith or incidental thereto.
 National Action Plan on Climate Change,
2008:
The guiding principles of the plan are:
 Inclusive and sustainable development strategy to
protect the poor
 Qualitative change in the method through which
the national growth objectives will be achieved i.e.
by enhancing ecological sustainability leading to
further mitigation
 Cost effective strategies for end use demand side
management
 ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018
 Deployment of appropriate technologies for
extensive and accelerated adaptation, and
mitigation of green house gases
 Innovative market, regulatory and voluntary
mechanisms to promote Sustainable Development
 Implementation through linkages with civil society,
local governments and public-private partnerships
 International cooperation, transfer of technology
and funding
National Missions
The core of the implementation of the Action plan
are constituted by the following eight missions, that
will be responsible for achieving the broad goals of
adaptation and mitigation, as applicable.
 National Solar Mission: The NAPCC aims to
promote the development and use of solar energy
for power generation and other uses with the
ultimate objective of making solar competitive with
fossil-based energy options.
 National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency:
Current initiatives are expected to yield savings of
10,000 MW by 2012.
 National Mission on Sustainable Habitat: To
promote energy efficiency as a core component of
urban planning, the plan calls for: Extending the
existing Energy Conservation Building Code.
 National Water Mission: With water scarcity
projected to worsen as a result of climate change,
the plan sets a goal of a 20% improvement in water
use efficiency through pricing and other measures.
 National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan
Ecosystem: The plan aims to conserve biodiversity,
forest cover, and other ecological values in the
Himalayan region, where glaciers that are a major
source of India‘s water supply are projected to
recede as a result of global warming.
 National Mission for a ―Green India‖: Goals include
the afforestation of 6 million hectares of degraded
forest lands and expanding forest cover from 23%
to 33% of India‘s territory.
 National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: The
plan aims to support climate adaptation in
agriculture through the development of climate-
resilient crops, expansion of weather insurance
mechanisms, and agricultural practices.
107 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018
Impact Factor:3.81
 National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for
Climate Change: To gain a better understanding of
climate science, impacts and challenges, the plan
envisions a new Climate Science Research Fund,
improved climate modeling, and increased
international collaboration. It also encourages
private sector initiatives to develop adaptation and
mitigation technologies through venture capital
funds39.
Approaches towards Sustainable
Development
While going through aforesaid discussion, we found
that developing as well as developed nations are
victims of climate change. Lot of work has been
initiated by different nation in their own nation as
well as globally by making National and
International treaties and domestic laws to curb the
problem of climate change and to achieve
Sustainable development but situation remains
unturned. Therefore, there is need to change the
approaches.
Majorly environment is polluted due human
activities. Further, developing states are competing
to reach the status of Developed Sate. However,
development in lieu of damage to environment is
intolerable. Therefore, there is a need of
Sustainable Development. The concept of
sustainable development (SD) can be defined as
maintenance and sustainable utilisation of the
functions (goods and services) provided by natural
ecosystems and biospheric processes 40 . World
Commission on Environment and Development
(Brundtland Commission) defined Sustainable
Development as "development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.‖
Sustainable development has become part of all
climate change policy discussions at the global
level, particularly due to adoption of Agenda 21
39
http://www.arthapedia.in/index.php?title=Nationa
l_Action_Plan_on_Climate_Change_(NAPCC)
40
http://www.biologydiscussion.com/sustainable-
development/sustainable-development-meaning-
concept-and-policies-ecology/70876
 ISSN : 2454-2415 Vol. 6, Issue 5, May, 2018
and the various Conventions resulting from the
UNCED-1992 41 . The United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) adopted 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) for next 15 year in its
seventh session in September 2015. These Goals
were adopted after long discussion. The United
Nation General Assembly‘s Open Working Group in
United Nations Conference on Sustainable
Development projected Sustainable Development
Goals covering a wide range of sustainable
development concerns, including combating
climate change and protecting oceans and forests,
and adopted in September 2015. Goals are
effective from January 2016 and will end in 2030.
Major Highlights of Sustainable Development Goals
are suppuration of poverty; fighting against
inequalities, gender justice and woman
empowerment. And in addition to that urge was to
achieve economic, social and environmental
dimensions of sustainable development. This could
only be possible when all member state will work
on same lines.
Indian government is also working on same line.
Being developing country it has to work a lot to
fulfill the wants of its citizen. Therefore, it needs
industrial growth in one hand and sustainable
development in another. To achieve sustainable
development Indian adopted National Action Plan
on Climate Change in year 2008. This plan was a
milestone in regards towards nation building and
sustainable development. The Plan aim Inclusive
and sustainable development strategy to protect the
poor. Qualitative change in the method through
which the national growth objectives will be
achieved i.e. by enhancing ecological sustainability
leading to further mitigation. Deployment of
appropriate technologies for extensive and
41
Jayant Sathaye, P. R. Shukla, N. H.
Ravindranath, ―Climate change, sustainable
development and India: Global and national
concerns,‖ Current Science, Vol. 90, No. 3, 10
February 2006.
108 International Journal of Innovative Knowledge Concepts, 6(5) May, 2018
Impact Factor:3.81
accelerated adaptation, and mitigation of green
house gases. Innovative market, regulatory and
voluntary mechanisms to promote Sustainable
Development and so on. Moreover, Indian
government had launched various missions like -
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, Apart from this there is
constitutional mandate to protect and preserve
environment. Further, there are various legislation
which are incorporated by Indian legislature to
protect our environment and to approach
sustainable development.
Conclusion:
Pollution is not restricted to nation boundaries; its
effects may be seen in neighboring countries as
well. Therefore, there is need that the entire nation
should come together to fight against the problem
of climate change to try to adopt such mechanism
through which sustainable development could be
achieved. Moreover, lots of measures are already
taken by nations of which India is also signatory,
but still much more is need. Nation should
understand their liability towards nature, so that
balance between Industrial growth and sustainable
development could be achieved. The mandate of
the Paris Agreement should be followed by the
member states to achieve Sustainable Development
Goals.