Pollution and emission of gases

 
Rajya Sabha 

The concentrations of green house gases in the atmosphere are leading to global warming and the govt. is aware that due to pollution and emission of gases the climate is changing in general all over the country. The analysis of data for the period 1901-2008 by IMD suggests that annual mean temperature for the country as a whole has risen by 0.52oC over the period. Spatial pattern of trends in the mean annual temperature shows significant positive (increasing) trend over most parts of the country except over parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Bihar, where significant negative (decreasing) trends were observed.

India is signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol, and also has various partnerships with other countries under the UNFCCC. While India does not have any Green House Gases (GHG) abatement commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, a range of policies and programs have been followed that include improving energy efficiency & conservation as well setting up of Bureau of Energy Efficiency, power sector reforms, promoting hydro and renewable energy, promotion of clean coal technologies, coal washing & efficient utilization of coal, afforestation and conservation of forests, reduction of gas flaring, use of cleaner and lesser carbon intensive fuel for transport, encouraging mass rapid transport systems and environmental quality management. These measures help achieve better energy intensity while addressing climate change as co-benefit. 

As per Geological Survey of India, majority of the Himalayan glaciers are melting (receding) at varying rates during the twentieth century. Recession of glaciers is a complex phenomenon which may result due to several factors including rise in temperature, amount and time of snowfall in the catchment, higher temperature during summer, less severe winter or a combination of all of them. Thus, it is not possible to specify the role played by the rise in temperature alone in this shrinkage. The recession of glaciers may lead to reduction in the ice reserves of the glaciers, besides changes in the river hydrology, enhanced silt and debris production, ecological disturbances, rise in sea level, etc. 

Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh replied in a written question by Shri O.T. Lepcha in Rajya Sabha today.