IMD, Japanese govt, and UNDP launched joint project to accelerate climate action in India

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Government of Japan, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have announced a new initiative to accelerate climate action in ten Indian states and union territories.

According to an official press release, the initiative will help Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) achieve net-zero emissions and ensure climate-resilient development. It will be implemented in collaboration with the IMD and the Ministries of Earth Sciences and New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The launch comes just a week after India’s Cabinet approved an update to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which will be communicated to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Promote climate resilience
UNDP will collaborate with IMD to promote climate resilience and MNRE to promote climate mitigation through the deployment of clean energy infrastructure and low-emission technologies in key sectors such as transportation, health, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and agriculture. Solarizing 150 healthcare facilities, 20 micro-enterprises, and installing 85 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations and 30 solar cold storage systems across ten states are all part of the plan.

Speaking on the partnership, Hokugo Kyoko, Minister (Economic and Development), Embassy of Japan in India, shared, “Our common goal of decarbonisation and sustainable development will require deeper climate partnerships in near future, and we are convinced that sectors which fall under the ambit of this UNDP project, such as transport, health, industries, and agriculture, are indispensable components that require interventions. Through the EV charging facilities, solarization of health centers, energy audits, and provision of information on institutional vulnerability to be implemented in the project, the project is expected to benefit not only the fight against climate change but also impact various actors, including health workers, workers in MSMEs and farmers, which will surely lead to sustainable development in India.

Government of India in achieving its climate targets
Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, UNDP India, highlighted, “We need to accelerate the adoption of clean energy for effective climate action. This process should be inclusive and secure just transition by ensuring sustainable livelihoods and energy access to leave no one behind. We are thankful to the Government of Japan for its partnership. UNDP is committed to supporting the Government of India in achieving its climate targets and promoting climate-resilient growth.”

At the launch, Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Government of India, mentioned, “IMD has consistently led the charge on climate action and in this project, we aim to demonstrate how IMD’s climate forecasts can be utilized to guide development planning. IMD supports the project activities in the districts of Uttarkashi in the state of Uttarakhand, Gyalshing and Soreng in the state of Sikkim. in two types of support – 1. with climate forecasts and weather advisories to improve disaster preparedness in some of the most high-risk geographies and 2. With technical expertise during gram panchayat planning to develop climate-informed plans.”

Project implemented in different states and union territories
Between 2022 and 2023, the project will be implemented in the states and union territories of Bihar, Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

At the COP26 summit in Glasgow in November 2021, India pledged to reduce total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030, install 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, reduce the carbon intensity of the nation’s economy by less than 45% by the end of the decade, and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. (seepositive.in)