SRINAGAR: India is intensifying its efforts to combat climate change through a series of legislative, regulatory, and administrative initiatives aimed at environmental conservation, pollution control, and climate adaptation. The government has implemented multiple schemes designed to mitigate the impact of climate change while promoting sustainability across various sectors.
According to a recent response by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, the government has been actively pursuing initiatives such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), the Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI), and the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). These programmes address issues like air quality improvement, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable living practices.
One of the key initiatives, the NCAP, launched in 2019, aims to achieve a reduction of up to 40 per cent in particulate matter levels across 130 cities by 2025-26. The ‘PRANA’ portal has been introduced to provide real-time updates on air quality, ensuring transparency and public awareness. Additionally, the introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework mandates producers to recycle waste materials, thereby promoting a circular economy and reducing pollution.
The MISHTI initiative, launched in June 2024, focuses on restoring mangrove forests along India’s coastline to enhance biodiversity and protect shorelines from climate-induced disasters. So far, 22,561 hectares of degraded mangroves have been restored, with additional funds allocated for afforestation efforts in several states.
Another significant step is the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, encouraging citizens to plant trees as a tribute to their mothers and to protect the planet. The initiative has already led to the plantation of 109 crore saplings, contributing to India’s growing green cover. Furthermore, the Nagar Van Yojana aims to develop 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatikas by 2026-27, improving biodiversity in urban and peri-urban areas.
India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation is evident in its growing number of protected areas, which have increased from 745 in 2014 to 1,022 in 2025. Similarly, India has expanded its network of Ramsar sites to 89, the largest in Asia, ensuring better protection for wetland ecosystems. The country’s efforts in tiger conservation have also yielded positive results, with the latest tiger estimation placing the population at 3,682, accounting for 70 per cent of the world’s wild tigers.
On the energy front, India has made notable progress in transitioning towards renewable sources. By October 2024, non-fossil sources accounted for 46.52 per cent of the installed electricity generation capacity, with renewable power capacity rising from 35 GW in 2014 to 156.25 GW. This shift aligns with India’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and its long-term strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
India’s climate action framework is guided by the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which integrates efforts across solar energy, sustainable agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem preservation, and energy efficiency. The government has also implemented the Climate Change Action Programme (CCAP) and the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) to support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Despite India’s historically low contribution to global emissions, the country continues to implement robust climate actions in line with the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement. By reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 36 per cent from 2005 to 2020 and expanding carbon sink capacities, India is actively working towards a sustainable and resilient future.
