Stakeholder Consultations on Karnataka State Action Plan on Climate Change

----------------------------------------------------Background Notes
-----------------------Climate change is generally associated with a lasting change in weather patterns over
long periods of time. It can be a natural phenomenon and has occurred on Earth even before
people inhabited it. As compared to this natural phenomenon is the current situation that is also
referred to as climate change, anthropogenic climate change, or global warming. This change in
weather patterns appears to be happening much faster and is linked to human activity
contributing to the green house effect.

Focused research across the world since early 1980s has established that Climate Change
is the most serious global environmental challenge today. As per the global community of
scientists the changes in the chemical composition of the atmosphere and increase in
concentration of Green House Gases (GHGs) pose a significant threat to the ecological balance
and bio-geo-chemical cycles including rainfall and temperature on the planet.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in its five successive reports, has
projected that changes in the natural cycles will severely affect the socio-economic texture and
environment at global as well as regional levels impacting all sections of the society. Changes in
the rainfall pattern will most affect agriculture, water resources. The fifth assessment report (AR
5) of IPCC (2014) has reiterated the earlier reports that the countries most affected by climate
change would be agrarian dominated, eco sensitive economies such as India. India, because of
the second largest population, very high density of population and disproportionately limited
natural resources, is projected to face many serious issues impacting every section of its society.

Presence of excessive GHGs in the atmosphere can be closely associated with the
increased pollution of air and water, which have huge implications to the long term welfare of
the humanity. The impacts of such pollution can already be seen in the form of contaminated
water bodies and polluted air in industrial and urban areas. Minimising such pollution levels can
be seen as one effective way of arresting the GHG emissions in the atmosphere.

According to the Government of Indias own assessment, the agriculture sector is facing
serious risks due to the current impacts of climate change: increasing temperatures, erratic
rainfall patterns and a higher number and severity of floods, droughts and cyclones. A number of
studies project that unless India adapts to the impacts of climate change, there is a probability of
10-40% loss in crop production in India by 2080- 2100 due to global warming. Economic
growth, food security and fighting poverty stand to lose. Effective mitigation measures are also
urgently required in order to minimise the Climate Change impacts in the medium to long term.

In the Climate Change context Karnataka has many serious issues to contend with.
About 77% of the total geographical area of the state is officially identified as arid or semi arid;
drought is a threat to reckon with as two thirds of the state receives less than 750 mm rainfall per
annum. 54% of total geographical area of the state is drought prone. With 19.96% forest cover
and with Western Ghats as one of the Global bio-diversity hotspots, the state has an important
role to play as a carbon sink at the global level.
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was prepared in 2008.
http://www.moef.nic.in/sites/default/files/Pg01-52_2.pdf

EMPRI prepared a Karnataka State Action Plan on Climate Change (KSAPCC) in 2011.
http://www.empri.kar.nic.in/Karnataka-SAPCC-EMPRI-TERI-2012-03-22.pdf

The gist of KSAPP has indicated the natural strengths and geographic constraints of the
state; identified the issues contributing to or impacted by Climate Change; and has also made
many recommendations for action plan.

Some of the natural strengths and constraints listed in Karnataka State Action Plan on
Climate Change are:
Karnataka is the largest producer of coffee, raw silk, sandalwood, ragi, sunflower,
tomato, coffee, areca nut, spices, aromatic and medicinal plants, and second largest
producer of maize, sunflower, grapes, pomegranate and onion. Horticultural crops
contribute to over 40% of total income generated from agriculture. In floricultural
production, Karnataka occupies second position.
The services sector dominates the state economy, the tertiary sector contributing 55.17%
to GDSPs.

 The state is endowed with limited water resources that are stressed and fast depleting.
64.6% of the total geographical area of the state is said to be under cultivation; and
farmers and agricultural laborers account to 56.5% of the total workforce of Karnataka.
The action points pertaining to KSPCB are as follows:

Promoting of treatment plants at point source and CETPs for cluster of small scale
industries.
Data on type and amount of Hazardous Chemicals released by sector
Research on implementation of advanced technology to reduce pollutants entering the
sea.
The KSPCB is enforcing the laws related to environmental pollution control in the state.
During the course of implementation the issues viz., water pollution, air pollution, waste
management are having direct bearing on the GHC emissions are addressed.

KSPCB looks forward to have effective consultations with identified stake holders. The
views emerged from the consultation process will be recorded and communicated to State
Government to incorporate in the State Action Plan on Climate Change and make it people
centric and inclusive.