India needs a comprehensive plan for climate adaptation and mitigation

• India still see wrath of nature as reason behind extreme weather events seen recenlty rather than anthropogenic global warming.
• India needs a two-part approach to tackle climate change:
  • Adapt by building resilience against weather extremes
  • Mitigate environmental destruction

Mitigation and adaptation

• Measures to prevent Heatwaves:
• Promote agricultural practices which are not water-intensive
• Support afforestation
• Financial transfers to help farmers plant trees and buy equipment
• Insurance schemes
• Floods and storms
• Stronger guidelines to avoid construction in locations with drainages.
• Map flood-risk zones to manage vulnerable regions.
• EIA must be mandatory for commercial projects.
• Build round-shaped houses to reduce strength of winds.
• Mitigating climate change
• Leading emitters must move away from fossil fuels.
• Regulation needs to be tightened and enforced
• Ensure forest protection while acquiring land.

Climate finance

• India’s share in disaster management should be raised to 2.5% of GDP.
• Tap large-scale global funding from World Bank, IMF and Asian Development Bank.
• States can tap into Union government’s resources.
• MGNREGA funds can be used for climate adaptation.
• Compensatory payment to local self-government for climate adaptation.