National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) is India’s comprehensive policy framework launched in June 2008 to address the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation. It seeks to balance the country’s developmental priorities with environmental sustainability by integrating climate considerations into national and sectoral policies.
Formulated under the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change (PMCCC), the NAPCC outlines a multi-pronged, long-term strategy to achieve sustainable development through the promotion of clean energy, efficient resource use, and enhanced ecological resilience.

Background and Context

India, as a rapidly developing nation, faces a dual challenge—achieving economic growth while mitigating the adverse effects of climate change such as rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, glacial retreat, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.
To respond effectively, the Government of India formulated the NAPCC, recognising the need for a nationally coordinated approach to climate policy.
Key milestones leading to the NAPCC include:

• UNFCCC (1992) and India’s commitment to the global climate agenda.
• Kyoto Protocol (1997), which influenced developing nations to adopt domestic climate strategies.
• Establishment of the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change (PMCCC) in 2007.
• Launch of the NAPCC on 30 June 2008 by then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Objectives of the NAPCC

The primary objectives of the National Action Plan on Climate Change are to:

1. Promote sustainable development through environmentally sound policies.
2. Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity of GDP.
3. Enhance energy efficiency and renewable energy use.
4. Strengthen climate resilience and adaptation in vulnerable sectors.
5. Support scientific research, technology innovation, and capacity building.
6. Encourage public awareness and participation in climate action.

The NAPCC emphasises the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC)” as outlined in the UNFCCC, reflecting India’s stance that industrialised nations bear a greater responsibility for historical emissions.

Guiding Principles

The NAPCC operates under certain key guiding principles:

• Protecting the poor and vulnerable sections of society through adaptive strategies.
• Ensuring sustainable economic growth without compromising environmental integrity.
• Integrating climate concerns into developmental planning at all levels.
• Fostering technology transfer and innovation in clean energy.
• Promoting international cooperation in climate research and capacity building.

Institutional Framework

• The Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change (PMCCC) oversees the overall implementation and monitoring of the NAPCC.
• Line ministries are responsible for formulating and executing sectoral missions.
• State governments develop State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs) consistent with the NAPCC framework.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) acts as the nodal agency for coordination.

The Eight National Missions under NAPCC

The NAPCC initially identified eight core national missions, each representing a key area of focus for climate action. These missions promote adaptation and mitigation strategies across different sectors.

Subsequent Additions and Revisions

Recognising the evolving climate priorities, additional missions and programmes have been introduced under the NAPCC framework:

Additional / Expanded Missions:

1. National Mission on Electric Mobility (2011):Promotes hybrid and electric vehicle adoption to reduce fossil fuel dependence and GHG emissions.
2. National Mission for Clean Ganga (2011):Focuses on pollution abatement and rejuvenation of the River Ganga ecosystem.
3. National Wind Energy Mission (2015):Aims to harness India’s wind power potential and achieve 60 GW of wind capacity by 2022.
4. National Bio-Energy Mission:Promotes power generation from biomass, biogas, and waste-to-energy projects.
5. National Hydrogen Energy Mission (2021):Encourages hydrogen production and use as a clean fuel alternative for transport and industry.
6. National Mission on Waste to Wealth (under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan):Supports conversion of waste into energy, compost, and useful resources.

These newer missions align with India’s updated commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Key Achievements of NAPCC

1. Renewable Energy Expansion:
   • India’s renewable energy capacity crossed 175 GW in 2023, making it one of the largest renewable programmes globally.
   • Solar and wind energy have grown significantly under the National Solar Mission and Wind Energy Mission.
2. Energy Efficiency Improvements:
   • The Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) mechanism led to measurable reductions in industrial energy intensity.
   • Ujala Scheme distributed over 360 million LED bulbs, reducing CO₂ emissions by millions of tonnes annually.
3. Water and Agricultural Initiatives:
   • Promotion of micro-irrigation, watershed management, and drought-resilient crop varieties.
4. Forest Conservation:
   • The Green India Mission expanded afforestation and community-based forest management programmes.
5. Research and Knowledge:
   • Enhanced data collection through institutions such as the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) and National Centre for Climate Services.
6. Policy Mainstreaming:
   • Integration of climate concerns into national policies like National Electricity Policy, Smart Cities Mission, and National Policy on Biofuels.

Challenges in Implementation

Despite its achievements, the NAPCC faces several limitations:

1. Funding Constraints:
   • Insufficient financial resources for mission-scale implementation, particularly in states.
2. Coordination Issues:
   • Overlaps among ministries and weak inter-departmental coordination.
3. Limited State Capacity:
   • Variation in the quality and execution of State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs).
4. Data and Monitoring Gaps:
   • Lack of uniform data collection and reporting mechanisms for measuring outcomes.
5. Private Sector Participation:
   • Limited investment and engagement in adaptation-related projects.
6. Awareness and Behavioural Change:
   • Need for stronger public participation in sustainable consumption and conservation practices.

Integration with Global Commitments

India’s NAPCC aligns closely with international climate commitments:

• UNFCCC & Kyoto Protocol: Contributed to India’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects.
• Paris Agreement (2015):India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are consistent with NAPCC objectives. These include:
  • Reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 (compared to 2005 levels).
  • Achieving 50% cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
  • Creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5–3 billion tonnes of CO₂ through forest cover.

Recent Developments

1. National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC):
   • Established in 2015 to support climate adaptation projects in vulnerable sectors.
2. National Mission on Sustainable Cooling (2019):
   • Aims to reduce cooling demand and refrigerant use while promoting energy efficiency.
3. Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (2022):
   • Outlines India’s path to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2070, as announced at COP26.
4. Updated SAPCCs (2021–2030):
   • States are revising their climate action plans to align with the updated NDCs and new missions.