India, other countries want developed world to agree to 40 per cent emission reduction by 2020

India, along with South Africa and 35 other like-minded countries have submitted a proposal calling for Annex-I parties (developed countries) to agree to at least 40 per cent emission reduction commitment by 2020 as compared to their 1990 levels under the Kyoto Protocol.

Based on the submissions of parties, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat has circulated a draft for negotiations, ministry of environment and forests (independent charge) Jairam Ramesh informed the Rajya Sabha today.

The talks for further emission reduction commitments of Annex-I parties in the second commitment period (post-2012) are undergoing since 2005, he stated.

The negotiations on the targets of Annex-I parties for the second commitment period and other relevant issues are to be concluded by December 2009 for adoption at the fifteenth conference of parties (COP-15) to the UNFCCC and fifth meeting of parties (MOP-5) to the Kyoto Protocol, he informed the House.
   
He also informed the House that the long-term variation in the mean onset date of monsoon in India of about 8 days is part of the natural variability and cannot be attributed to climate change. Climate model studies carried out by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) show no significant impact on change in the mean onset of monsoon in India, he added.

He said the government is aware of the challenges posed by climate change and has taken steps in this regard. The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was released on 30 June 2008 to outline India's strategy to meet the challenge of Climate Change. The National Action Plan outlines steps that will enable the country to adapt to climate change and enhance the ecological sustainability of India's development path. A dedicated Centre for climate change research at IITM, Pune has been set up to undertake focused research on the science aspects of climate change, he pointed out.

He said the country is all set to respond to the challenge of climate change. Various actions have been initiated in this direction, including a growth strategy based on sustainable development.

According to the studies conducted by India Meteorological Department (IMD) and other institutions, there have been a warming of about 0.5 degree C during past 100 years over the country with a significant warming trend along the west coast, central India, and interior peninsula and over northeast India. A cooling trend has been observed in northwest and some parts of southern India.

The all-India monsoon rainfall does not show any trend but there are some regional patterns. Areas of increasing trend in monsoon rainfall are found along the west coast, north Andhra Pradesh and northwest India, and those of decreasing trend over east Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas, northeast India and parts of Gujarat and Kerala, he stated. Analysis of past tide gauge records for the Indian coastline regions give an estimate of sea level rise of 1.30 mm/year, he stated.