What is the issue?

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently constituted a high-level inter-ministerial Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA).
• In this backdrop, here is an assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the issue of climate crisis.

How are Covid-19 impact and climate crisis related?

• With the formation of the AIPA, India is again strengthening its global leadership role in combating climate change.
• At the same time, along with many economies, India is being severely affected by the spread and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• But the good news is that recovering from the economic shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic, and avoiding severe future shocks triggered through the climate crisis, do not represent conflicting interests.
• Instead, a mutually-reinforcing coping strategy is presented with this.

What does this imply?

• India has tremendous potential for a ‘green recovery’ from the impacts of Covid-19.
• The decarbonisation of India’s energy sector has a strong role to play in reviving the economy and the health system by –
  1. boosting employment
  2. fostering rural electrification as foundation of local value creation
  3. unburdening national health systems by reducing the prevalence of respiratory diseases

• The various co-benefits that accompany climate action link the missions and mandates of several ministries.
• Notably, the new AIPA committee has members representing 14 ministries.
• It is perfectly suited to generate a coordinated response on climate change matters.
• Importantly it also helps maximise and coordinate the multiple social and economic co-benefits that accompany ambitious climate action.

How does this work in India?

• India can significantly boost employment by increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix.
• Renewables tend to be more labour-intensive than conventional energy technologies.
• By 2050, more than 3.5 million people could be employed in the renewable energy sector.
• This is five times more than the entire Indian fossil-fuel sector (coal, gas, nuclear) employed in 2020.
• India can also markedly improve the livelihoods of its citizens by reducing ambient air pollution.
• In a business-as-usual scenario, during 2020, almost 500,000 people will die prematurely due to exposure to particulate matter (PM10), increasing to 830,000 premature deaths during 2050.
• By moving to a more ambitious decarbonisation pathway (NDC PLUS), more than 200,000 premature deaths can be avoided.

Source: Financial Express

Quick Fact

Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA)

• The AIPA is constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary, MoEFCC.
• The purpose of AIPA is to generate a coordinated response on climate change matters.
• It works to ensure that India is on track towards meeting its obligations under the Paris Agreement including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
• Senior officials from fourteen ministries will serve as Members to AIPA.
• Another key function of AIPA would be to operate as a National Authority to regulate carbon markets in India under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
• It will also -
  • formulate guidelines for consideration of projects or activities under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
  • issue guidelines on carbon pricing, market mechanism, and other similar instruments that have a bearing on climate change and NDCs
• AIPA will take note of the contributions of the private sector as well as multi-/bi-lateral agencies in the field of climate change.
• It will provide guidance for aligning their climate actions with national priorities.