Environ Min proposes slew of measures on climate change

In a bid to tackle global warming, a proposal has been mooted to launch a new scheme on climate change by implementing a slew of measures including setting up of an institute in the name of Rajiv Gandhi.
The 'Climate Change Action Programme' will entail an estimated expenditure of Rs 290 crore during the 12th Five Year Plan, according to a proposal moved by the Environment Ministry.
The Union Cabinet is likely to take a call on the proposal tomorrow.
According to the proposal, the scheme is proposed to be implemented as central sector scheme with full funding from the central budget and intends to support actions by the central and state governments and other stakeholders in the areas of climate change.

The objective of the scheme is to build and support capacity at central and state level to assess impact of climate change on the vulnerable areas associated with risks.
It will launch studies and projects to address the challenge of climate change in all dimensions, the proposal said.

The Environment Ministry has also asked the Cabinet to undertake and augment various activities under the scheme including Coordination of National Action Plan on Climate Change, State Action Plan on Climate Change and setting up of and autonomous body called Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for Climate Change Studies and Actions.
It has also proposed to undertake activities including National Carbonaceous Aerosols Programme, Long Term Ecological Observatories for Climate Change Studies, Coordinated Studies on Climate Change for North East Region and International negotiations and contributions and Capacity Building under the 'Climate Change Action Programme'.

The proposed Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for Climate Change Studies and Actions will have four key functional areas relate to environmental-scientific assessments and modelling, economic and legal analysis, monitoring and policy making, training, capacity building and advocacy and database, documentation and inventory management.
The Cabinet is also likely to consider an Urban Development Ministry proposal seeking arrangement for upkeep, maintenance and management of Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.
A Science and Technology Ministry proposal seeking taking over of the Centre for Earth Science Studies, a unit of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment is also likely to be taken up by the Cabinet.