National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), Features, Challenges

The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was launched by the Government of India in 2008 to address climate change through sustainable development. It consists of eight national missions focusing on areas such as renewable energy, water conservation, agriculture, forests, and sustainable urban development. The plan aims to reduce the impact of climate change while supporting economic growth and energy security. It also helps India meet its commitments under international climate agreements like the Paris Agreement.

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) Components

The backbone of National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) is its eight National Missions, which are integrated, multi-pronged strategies designed to tackle climate change across different sectors. These missions are:

1. National Solar Mission (NSM) – Promote solar energy adoption.
2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) – Improve energy efficiency in industries and buildings.
3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) – Make urban areas energy-efficient and climate-resilient.
4. National Water Mission (NWM) – Conserve water and ensure equitable distribution.
5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) – Protect Himalayan biodiversity and glaciers.
6. National Mission for a Green India (GIM) – Increase forest cover and biodiversity conservation.
7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) – Promote climate-resilient agricultural practices.
8. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC) – Generate and share knowledge on climate change.

National Action Plan on Climate Change Features

The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) is guided by the following principles:

• Inclusive Development: Protecting poor and vulnerable communities through climate-sensitive strategies.
• Sustainable Growth: Achieving economic growth while maintaining ecological balance.
• Technology Deployment: Promoting technologies for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate adaptation.
• Regulatory and Voluntary Mechanisms: Encouraging sustainable practices and innovation through policy measures and market-driven mechanisms.
• International Cooperation: Leveraging research, funding, and technology transfer under frameworks like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

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1. National Solar Mission (NSM)

• National Solar Mission (NSM) was launched in 2010 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• It is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It aims to promote ecologically sustainable growth while ensuring India’s energy security.
• It initially targeted 20 GW of solar capacity by 2022, which was later enhanced to 100 GW in 2015.
• It seeks to achieve 60 GW from large and medium solar projects and 40 GW from rooftop solar systems.
• It supports India’s commitment under the Paris Agreement, where India pledged that 40% of installed power capacity will be from clean sources by 2030.
• It forms part of India’s broader goal of achieving 175 GW renewable energy capacity by 2022, including solar, wind, bioenergy, and small hydro.
• It promotes net metering, allowing households to feed surplus solar power into the grid and pay only for net electricity consumption.

2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE)

• National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE) was approved in 2010 and is implemented by the Ministry of Power.
• It is based on the Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• It aims to unlock India’s large energy efficiency potential estimated at ₹1.6 lakh crore.
• It promotes market-based mechanisms to improve energy efficiency across industries and households.
• It introduced the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, which sets energy-saving targets for industries and allows trading of Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts).
• It includes the Market Transformation for Energy Efficiency (MTEE) scheme to promote energy-efficient appliances.
• It supports financing mechanisms through Energy Efficiency Financing Platform (EEFP).
• It includes FEEED, which provides risk guarantee and venture capital support for energy efficiency projects.

3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH)

• National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) was approved in 2010 and is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• It aims to make cities sustainable, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient.
• It promotes energy-efficient buildings through Energy Conservation Building Codes.
• It encourages public transport, non-motorised transport, and urban mobility planning.
• It focuses on scientific management of solid and liquid waste, including waste-to-energy projects.
• It supports recycling, reuse, and improved sanitation systems.
• It strengthens climate resilience of cities through disaster preparedness and early warning systems.
• It is implemented through schemes such as AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, and Urban Transport Programme.

4. National Water Mission (NWM)

• National Water Mission (NWM) is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• It aims to ensure integrated and sustainable water resource management.
• It targets 20% improvement in water-use efficiency.
• It promotes rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.
• It encourages recycling and reuse of wastewater in urban areas.
• It promotes basin-level planning and climate-resilient water management.
• It supports desalination technologies for coastal cities.
• It promotes efficient irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler irrigation.

5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)

• National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) was approved in 2014 and is implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• It aims to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and glaciers.
• It focuses on monitoring climate change impacts on glaciers and water systems.
• It supports biodiversity conservation and wildlife protection.
• It addresses increased risks of floods, landslides, and droughts.
• It promotes scientific research and long-term ecological monitoring.
• It supports livelihood security of Himalayan communities.
• It strengthens institutional and research capacities for sustainable development.

6. National Mission for a Green India (GIM)

• National Mission for a Green India (GIM) was approved in 2014 and is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• It aims to protect, restore, and enhance forest and tree cover.
• It targets increasing forest and tree cover on 5 million hectares.
• It aims to improve the quality of forest cover on another 5 million hectares.
• It seeks to enhance carbon sequestration by 50–60 million tonnes annually.
• It promotes biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.
• It encourages community participation and forest-based livelihoods.
• It enhances ecological connectivity through biological corridors.

7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was launched in 2010 and is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• It aims to make agriculture climate-resilient, especially in rainfed areas.
• It focuses on soil health management and efficient water use.
• It promotes drought-resistant crops and climate-resilient farming techniques.
• It supports micro-irrigation, crop diversification, and integrated farming systems.
• It strengthens agricultural insurance and risk management mechanisms.
• It promotes soil health cards to improve fertilizer use efficiency.
• It enhances farmers’ income and food security under changing climate conditions.

8. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC)

• National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change (NMSKCC) is implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
• It aims to build a strong knowledge base to support climate action.
• It promotes climate research and data generation.
• It supports the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA).
• It develops climate models for regional impact assessment.
• It strengthens research on agriculture, health, biodiversity, and coastal zones.
• It encourages international collaboration and data sharing.
• It supports evidence-based policymaking for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

National Action Plan on Climate Change Achievements

The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) launched in 2008, has played a crucial role in shaping India’s response to climate change by integrating sustainable development with climate mitigation and adaptation. Over the years, it has strengthened India’s domestic climate action and enhanced its global climate leadership.

• The NAPCC led to rapid expansion of renewable energy, especially solar power, with India crossing 70 GW solar capacity and becoming one of the world’s leading renewable energy producers.
• It strengthened energy efficiency through the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, introducing PAT scheme, star labelling, and LED programs that significantly reduced power consumption and emissions.
• The plan improved urban sustainability by promoting energy-efficient buildings, sustainable transport, waste management, and climate-resilient urban planning through the Sustainable Habitat Mission.
• It enhanced water security by promoting efficient water use, rainwater harvesting, basin-level planning, and wastewater reuse under the National Water Mission.
• The Green India Mission contributed to increasing forest and tree cover, restoring degraded land, and enhancing carbon sequestration, supporting India’s target of creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes.
• The Himalayan Ecosystem Mission improved glacier monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and disaster risk reduction while supporting sustainable livelihoods in climate-vulnerable mountain regions.
• Climate-resilient agriculture was promoted through better soil management, drought-resistant crops, micro-irrigation, and climate-smart farming practices to protect farmers from climate shocks.

National Action Plan on Climate Change Challenges

The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) faces several challenges despite India’s strong potential to adopt a low-carbon growth path. Since India is still developing and contributes relatively less to global emissions, it has the opportunity to leapfrog using clean and advanced technologies.

• The NAPCC does not set any binding target for reducing carbon emissions, which weakens its overall impact and accountability.
• Although India has strong potential for low-carbon growth, the plan does not clearly define a long-term transition roadmap.
• Excessive focus on the National Solar Mission has led to neglect of other important missions like water, agriculture, and sustainable habitat.
• Missions related to water, forestry, agriculture, and urban development are multi-sectoral and involve many ministries, making coordination slow and complex.
• Many ongoing schemes already align with mission goals, but lack of integration leads to duplication of efforts and wastage of resources.
• Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are weak, and progress data is available only for a few missions such as solar and energy efficiency.
• Cross-cutting missions face difficulty in implementation due to overlapping responsibilities and unclear accountability.
• Institutional challenges such as lack of technical expertise, financial constraints, and delays in project approvals affect progress.

Way Forward

• Strengthen coordination among ministries and states to ensure smooth and time-bound implementation of all climate missions.
• Improve monitoring, data collection and reporting systems for better evaluation of mission-wise progress.
• Enhance financial support through green finance, private investment and international climate funds.
• Promote clean technologies, renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure at a faster pace.
• Integrate climate action into development planning, urban growth, agriculture and industrial policies.
• Increase public awareness, community participation and capacity building for effective grassroots implementation.