Climate change: PM calls for extending focus to new areas

With a view to addressing the challenge of climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today directed the ministries concerned to prepare a concept paper covering certain new areas, including health and waste management, which need attention in this regard.
Sources said that Modi, who today chaired the first meeting of the reconstituted 'Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change', is learnt to have stressed on the need to focus on aspects like health, urban waste management, coastal areas and wind energy which are not covered under the ongoing missions.
"The ministries concerned have been asked to work on these new areas and prepare a concept note in the next four-five months. Once it is finalised, funds will be allocated accordingly," the sources said.

Modi also asked the ministries to ensure that the existing eight missions are run in a more focused manner so that they may deliver the results.
"It was informed in the meeting that the missions are on track at present since the financial allocation from the 2013-14 fiscal. Although funds have not been fully released, we are hoping for more allocation in the coming budget," the source added.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar later said that the Prime Minister had led the deliberations and urged that the problem should be seen as an opportunity to act more vigorously and, at the same time, project the country's contribution effectively to the world.

"I think this was a good start. I hope that further interactions will happen... We discussed a wide range of subjects... (and) members also gave suggestions," he said.

Javadekar said Modi had emphasised that the whole climate change challenge should be treated as an opportunity to act proactively. According to the environment minister, the Prime Minister also emphasised that whatever India has done in the renewable energy sector, including on solar, wind and biomass energy, "all should be mapped".
Climate action plan of all ministries, states and Union Territories have been sought by the environment ministry, Javadekar said while talking about the steps taken by the Centre in dealing with the issue of global warming.

Meanwhile, sources said that the Prime Minister stressed on the need for the government's climate missions to be more ambitious and also sought the strengthening of India's solar mission.