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As the world's population is expected to be over 2/3rd urban by 2050, climate action in cities is a growing area of interest in the inter-disciplines of development policy, disaster mitigation and environmental governance. The climate impacts are expected to be quite severe in the developing world, given its urban societies are densely packed, vastly exposed to natural elements while possessing limited capabilities. There is a notable ambiguity and complexity that inhibits a methodical approach in identifying urban resilience measures. The complexity is due to intersection of large number of distinct variables in climate geoscience (precipitation and temperature anomalies at different locations, RCPs, timeline), adaptation alternatives (approach, priority, intervention level) and urban governance (functional mandate, institutional capacity, and plans & policies). This research examines how disparate and complex knowledge and information in these inter-disciplines can be processed for systematic 'negotiation' to situate, ground and operationalize resilience in cities. With India as a case, we test this by simulating mid-term and long-run climate scenarios (2050 & 2080) to map regional climate impacts that shows escalation in the intensity of climate events like heat waves, urban flooding, landslides and sea level rise. We draw on suitable adaptation measures for five key urban sectors- water, infrastructure (including energy), building, urban planning, health and conclude a sleuth of climate resilience building measures for policy application through national/ state policies, local urban plans and preparation of city resilience strategy, as well as advance the research on 'negotiated resilience' in urban areas., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Changes in rainfall patterns and temperatures are likely to affect water resources in India. Also, changes in the extreme events will have direct implications on life and property. Adapting to the adverse effects of climate change becomes critical to avoid huge material and immaterial damages. This paper discusses the use of a multi-level and participatory approach to develop adaptation options to deal with climate related risks in a manner that contributes to stakeholder engagement, understanding of the risks, identification of the adaptation responses as well as its prioritization for risk reduction. It highlights the importance of involving stakeholders from multiple levels as each level corresponds with different priorities in adaptation options., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

At the international level, India is emerging as a key actor in climate negotiations, while at the national and sub-national levels, the climate policy landscape is becoming more active and more ambitious. It is essential to unravel this complex landscape if we are to understand why policy looks the way it does, and the extent to which India might contribute to a future international framework for tackling climate change as well as how international parties might cooperate with and support India's domestic efforts. Drawing on both primary and secondary data, this paper analyzes the material and ideational drivers that are most strongly influencing policy choices at different levels, from international negotiations down to individual states. We argue that at each level of decision making in India, climate policy is embedded in wider policy concerns. In the international realm, it is being woven into broader foreign policy strategy, while domestically, it is being shaped to serve national and sub-national development interests. While our analysis highlights some common drivers at all levels, it also finds that their influences over policy are not uniform across the different arenas, and in some cases, they work in different ways at different levels of policy. We also indicate what this may mean for the likely acceptability within India of various climate policies being pushed at the international level.

In this paper, we examine whether geopolitical risk influences environmental degradation, while controlling for non-renewable energy consumption, economic growth and trade openness, using a quarterly dataset from 1985Q1 to 2019Q4. The choice of India as a case study is based on a number of reasons. India is a developing country, which produces approximately 3.2% of global GDP. Also, India produces almost 17.7% of the world population. The country also emits about 6.8% of global carbon emissions, and according to the 2020 report of the consulting firm Eurasia, India is ranked fifth in terms of geopolitical risk. This study adds to the existing literature by using the quantile-on-quantile (QQR) regression to examine the effect of geopolitical risk on environmental degradation, as well as highlighting the implications of geopolitical risk on environmental sustainability. Based on empirical estimation, we find that geopolitical risk increases and decreases carbon emissions in India. That is, geopolitical risk increases environmental degradation at middle quantiles and decreases environmental degradation at lower and higher quantiles. In addition, we find that non-renewable energy consumption, economic growth and trade openness impede environmental quality in India. Thus, we are of the opinion that policymakers, when making policy decisions on environmental quality, should factor in geopolitical risk in two areas, mitigation and channel of escalation, among other policy suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change issue has evolved as a central policy of the Government of India. The crux of the policy is centered on the economic development. Internationally, India has been consistently resisting the developed country's climate policy as the policy might threaten New Delhi's economic development prospect. However, the recent evidence of climate change threat to the economic development compelled political leaders to design the domestic climate policy—the National Action Plan on Climate Change—which is consistent with the country's economic development. Considering the global climate diplomacy, this paper examines the evolution of India's domestic climate change-development discourse and how climate change has been constructed as a major threat at the highest political level that securitises the country's economic development. The threat discourse is explained from the standpoint of the securitisation theory to explore three core constituents of India's domestic climate policy: the referent object, securitising actors and the audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jointly with the Global North, the rise of the Global South has come at a high cost to the environment. Driven by its high energy intensity and the use of fossil fuels, the South has contributed a significant portion of global emissions during the last 30 years, and is now contributing some 63% of today's total GHG emissions (including land-use change and forestry). Similar to the Global North, the Global South's emissions are heavily concentrated: India and China alone account for some 60% and the top 10 countries for some 78% of the group's emissions, while some 120 countries account for only 22%. Without highlighting such differences, it makes little sense to use the term 'Global South'. Its members are affected differently, and contribute differently to global climate change. They neither share a common view, nor do they pursue joint interests when it comes to international climate negotiations. Instead, they are organised into more than a dozen subgroups of the global climate regime. There is no single climate strategy for the Global South, and climate action will differ enormously from country to country. Furthermore, just and equitable transitions may be particularly challenging for some countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological problems are increasing globally, studies are being done seriously for environmental protection; Efforts are being made to improve the deteriorating relationship between development and the environment. Since the publication of the issue,=Development and the Environment' by the World Bank in 1992, several articles on the relationship between development and the environment have been published in the economic literature, most of which suggestthe government policies to improve this deteriorating relationship. In the direction of environmental protection, there have been many policy changes in various developed and developing countries, which have yielded promising results. Some countries have adopted the policy of financial incentives; some countries have given colour codes based on the pollution of factories. Some countries have adopted a policy of campaigning against pollutants and some have started following a policy of punitive recovery based on polluted emissions. Many countries have begun making industrial workers and the public aware of pollution because they are the worst affected by pollution. These efforts have yielded good results. In Asian countries, many positive trends can be found in environmental protection through governance. On the other hand, environmental policies & laws were strengthened, particularly in the 1970s and again in the 1990s. India follows the basic principle of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). According to which, countries responsible for climate change have to contribute more to emission reductionsthan other less accountable countries. Thus, India is not bound by these responsibilities but can make voluntary contributions. At the world level, ever since the environment has become an important issue in international politics, India has been working on it responsibly. India is trying to fulfil the commitments made at the world level. India signed the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016 with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases under UNFCCC. India is actively working with China and G-77 for joint programme development on the agreement. UNFCCC has given a number of presentations on finance, technology, forestry and other sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article responds to recent research highlighting the need for greater focus on the dynamics of climate mobility and destination state policies. Bangladesh's low‐lying landmass, dense population and long coastline has raised the risk of climate change‐induced destabilization due to sea‐level rise. There is increased risk of long‐term, cross‐border movement of climate refugees into India which previously experienced a short‐term, intense exodus of ten million East Pakistani refugees from the 1971 Bangladesh War. This study understands India's state, NGO, and societal responses to the 1971 crisis using the concept of framing and developing a "perception‐capability‐policy output" approach to garner policy lessons for potential future climate change‐induced migration. Limitations of the "conflict versus climate migration" comparison are acknowledged, even as its utility is highlighted. The article ends by noting the crucial role of NGOs and social capital in filling capability voids of the state, constrained by a polarizing political environment. Related Articles: Asal, Victor, and Mitchell Brown. 2010. "A Cross‐National Exploration of the Conditions that Produce Interpersonal Violence." Politics & Policy 38 (2): 175‐192. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00234.x Harel‐Shalev, Ayelet. 2009. "Lingual and Educational Policy toward 'Homeland Minorities' in Deeply Divided Societies: India and Israel as Case Studies." Politics & Policy 37 (5): 951‐970. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2009.00206.x/abstract Harel‐Shalev, Ayelet. 2013. "Policy Analysis beyond Personal Law: Muslim Women's Rights in India." Politics & Policy 41 (3): 384‐419. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are broad sets of common goals for fair and sustainable health from local to international community. The aim is to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity, now and in the future. The goals embody an agenda that is scientifically strong, and widely in-built planned to figure upon the progress recognized by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). There is a need for structure wide strategic planning to integrate the economic, social and environmental dimensions into policy and actions. In the era of climate change we need to understand the difference between the MDGs and the SDGs, their implementation and nature of universality and the systems thinking that is needed to deliver the vision. The danger is that individual goals may be prioritized without an understanding of the potential positive interactions between goals. There is an increasing understanding that sustainable development needs a paradigm shift in our understanding of the interaction between the real economy and quality of life. There would be many social, environmental and economic benefits in changing our current model. The paper basically will focus on: 1) the importance of sustainable developmental goals in the era of climate change in India; 2) Need to develop systems understanding of what supports a healthy environment and the issues & challenges thereof.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1970s, and especially following the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, climate change has become an area of high politics, engaging the whole world at the international and diplomatic level. What matters, though, is how this translates into tangible policies at national and local levels, and how these different scales interact. Highlighting India’s unique position in international climate negotiations, this article first scrutinises various official statements and documents of the Government of India (GOI) on climate change and puts them into an analytical framework that demonstrates continuities, but also significant recent shifts. Investigating the reasons for such modifying trends and examining their consequences, the article then suggests that partly owing to recent changes in global and (geo)political contexts, but also due to an Indian re-thinking of responsibility for addressing global climate change, there is a significant new development. This seems to augur a South Asian ‘silent revolution’ in green technologies, a prudent, economically and ecologically beneficial step, not only for India but possibly a sustainable global model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rivers flowing into the Western Indian Ocean have steep headwater gradients and carry high sediment loads. In combination with strong tides and seasonal rainfall, these rivers create dynamic deltas with biodiversity-rich and productive ecosystems that, through flooding, have sustained indigenous use systems for centuries. However, river catchments are rapidly changing due to deforestation. Hydropower dams also increasingly alter flood characteristics, reduce sediment supply and contribute to coastal erosion. These impacts are compounded by climate change. Altogether, these changes affect the livelihoods of the delta users. Here, based on prior works that we and others have conducted in the region, we analyse the drivers of these hydro-ecological changes. We then provide recommendations for improved dam design and operations to sustain the underlying delta-building processes, the ecosystem values and the needs of the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The submission explores the possibility of a policy revision for considering clean air quality in recently launched nationwide campaign, Clean India Mission (CIM). Despite of several efforts for improving availability of clean household energy and sanitation facilities, situation remain still depressing as almost half of global population lacks access to clean energy and proper sanitation. Globally, at least 2.5 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation facilities. There are also evidences of 7 million premature deaths by air pollution in year 2012. The situation is even more disastrous for India especially in rural areas. Although, India has reasonably progressed in developing sanitary facilities and disseminating clean fuel to its urban households, the situation in rural areas is still miserable and needs to be reviewed. Several policy interventions and campaigns were made to improve the scenario but outcomes were remarkably poor. Indian census revealed a mere 31% sanitation coverage (in 2011) compared to 22% in 2001 while 60% of population (700 million) still use solid biofuels and traditional cook stoves for household cooking. Further, last decade (2001-2011) witnessed the progress decelerating down with rural households without sanitation facilities increased by 8.3 million while minimum progress has been made in conversion of conventional to modern fuels. To revamp the sanitation coverage, an overambitious nationwide campaign CIM was initiated in 2014 and present submission explores the possibility of including 'clean air' considerations within it. The article draws evidence from literatures on scenarios of rural sanitation, energy practises, pollution induced mortality and climatic impacts of air pollution. This subsequently hypothesised with possible modification in available technologies, dissemination modes, financing and implementation for integration of CIM with 'clean air' so that access to both sanitation and clean household energy may be effectively addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the large middle-income countries Brazil, China, and South Africa, India has been put under increasing pressure to shoulder parts of the mitigation burden and commit to national emission reduction targets. India, however, refers to its limited capacity and widespread poverty. Is India hiding behind its poor? While others examine the distribution of emissions within the country to answer this question, we study domestic policy making for energy subsidies and access to clean energy. Empirical evidence suggests that domestic policy making is at least partially consistent with the pro-poor arguments advanced at the international level. Given their large number and the country's democratic system, the poor do have some weight in Indian politics. However, pro-poor policies end where they do not translate into greater vote shares. Moreover, India's international position ignores the existing complementarities between climate-friendly and pro-poor activities. Policy relevance Despite India's recent growth spurt, its concern to fight energy poverty at home before engaging in any commitments on climate policy at the international level should be taken seriously within the international negotiations. Policy making in India is driven by democratic incentives, which, in this case, work to the benefit of the poor. Pro-poor policies may not go as far as one would wish from a developmental perspective, but the impact of the masses of the poor on domestic policy making is politically significant and cannot be ignored. This also provides some broader lessons for mitigation and adaptation policies in developing countries: politicians respond to incentives and support will only reach the needy if the appropriate incentives are in place. While we observe some significant commitment and implementation problems even in a democratic country like India, such problems must be expected to be even more serious elsewhere. This should not be overlooked when designing institutions for the allocation of climate finance, such as the Green Climate Fund. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The few systematic international comparisons of climate policy strength made so far have serious weaknesses, particularly those that assign arbitrary weightings to different policy instrument types in order to calculate an aggregate score for policy strength. This article avoids these problems by ranking the six biggest emitters by far – China, the US, the EU, India, Russia, and Japan – on a set of six key policy instruments that are individually potent and together representative of climate policy as a whole: carbon taxes, emissions trading, feed-in tariffs, renewable energy quotas, fossil fuel power plant bans, and vehicle emissions standards. The results cast strong doubt on any idea that there is a clear hierarchy on climate policy with Europe at the top: the EU does lead on a number of policies but so does Japan. China, the US, and India each lead on one area. Russia is inactive on all fronts. At the same time climate policy everywhere remains weak compared to what it could be. Policy relevance This study enables climate policy strength, defined as the extent to which the statutory provisions of climate policies are likely to restrict GHG emissions if implemented as intended, to be assessed and compared more realistically across space and time. As such its availability for the six biggest emitters, which together account for over 70% of global CO2emissions, should facilitate international negotiations (1) by giving participants a better idea of where major emitters stand relative to each other as far as climate policy stringency is concerned, and (2) by identifying areas of weakness that need action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses how the Paris Agreement on climate change affects China and India. Taking a TWAIL (third-world approaches to international law) approach, it argues that patterns of exploitation are repeated in different fields. The UNFCCC required developed countries to reduce their emissions before developing countries would be required to do so. While some developed countries are keeping to their side of the bargain, others are failing to do so. Nevertheless, China and India have accepted an agreement with targets for all countries which requires considerable sacrifices in the energy field but possible gains in the water field. While both countries have agreed to reduce the rate of growth of their emissions, they have high expectations of climate finance, which are unlikely to be fulfilled. Their commitments require major changes to national policy, scarcely the sort of tinkering that the no-regrets policy in India has achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2009, the Government of India asked all Indian states and Union Territories to prepare State Action Plans on Climate Change, making it one of the largest efforts at sub-national climate planning globally. Through an examination of state climate plans in five Indian states, the paper explores the implications of sub-national climate measures by examining two questions: First, how do state action plans on climate change link with India’s national and international climate efforts in the context of multi-level governance of climate change? Second, do these plans serve as laboratories of experimentation in addressing climate change? Through an empirically driven inductive analysis, the paper argues that because state climate plans, at least in the initial stages, followed a centrally driven, and sometimes ambiguous agenda, their scope and room to experiment was circumscribed. While they did initiate a process and a conversation, the scope and impact of the plans was limited because they tended to follow conventional bureaucratic planning processes and were limited by a central mandate. The plan process did create some space for local innovation, particularly by enterprising bureaucrats, but this was limited by both restricted space and time for innovation. As a result, the plans made only initial steps toward bringing climate-resilient sustainability to the forefront of state development planning. There is however scope for improvement as states and stakeholders begin examining the plans with a view to implement recommendations, finance projects and even consider fresh iterations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article sheds light on multi-level climate governance in the particular context of India and scrutinizes the role India’s subnational states play in climate policy. It uses an analytical lens that combines multi-level climate governance and “laboratories of experimentation”. The first part of the article clarifies the analytical concept of the article and deals with the phenomenon of states experimentation in multi-level climate governance structures from a theoretical background. The second part of the article explores India’s multi-level climate governance structure and sheds light on the role of India’s states therein with specific emphasis on the development of renewable energy. The third part looks at the multi-tiered climate action planning processes, and considers how central top-down policies and subnational bottom-up approaches are linked. Asking whether the Indian states do not only act as mere implementers of federal top-down policies, but instead create own initiatives for climate action. The article examines state climate action plans with particular focus on renewable energy initiatives integrated in the plans by asking whether the Indian states do not act solely as mere implementers of federal top-down policies, but instead create their own initiatives for climate action, much like the German Bundesländer, for example. Based on document analysis and interviews the article explores whether India’s states experiment with individual approaches to develop renewable energy which are, tailored to regional specifics, or whether they mainly implement national objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article looks at the proposed goal of India to reduce the emissions intensity of its economy, or the amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of gross domestic product, by between 20% and 25% by the year 2020. Topics discussed include the country's climate pledge, or Intended Nationally Determined tribution (INDC), per capita emissions, carbon intensity, and annual emissions.

We examined existing policy instruments of the Indian forest, wildlife, and environment sectors for the period 1927–2008 to (a) assess their strengths and weaknesses in addressing information, market and policy failures in ecosystem service provision in the Indian Himalayan region and (b) determine if they were informatory or regulatory in nature and whether they encouraged the use of market-based instruments. Our analysis revealed that Indian policy measures can be categorized into four eras: Production (1927–1972), Protection (1972–1988), Community Participation (1988–2006), and Climate Change and Globalization (2006 onwards). The policies of the earlier two eras were largely regulatory in nature. From 1988 onwards, community participation in biodiversity conservation has made the policies more informatory and market-based. The recognition that Himalayas are a distinct ecosystem, crucial for their services but vulnerable to climate change impacts, has come about only with the National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem. Given the multiple stakeholders in Indian Himalayas and the off-site nature of ecosystem services, a complementarity of instruments and their ability to address the consequences of local decisions on downstream ecosystem services are essential. A participatory and sectorally coordinated mixed governance approach is needed to sustain ecosystem services in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Powerful political actors in the international system quite frequently adopt unilateral policies whose implications extend beyond their respective borders. Examples include financial market regulation as well as taxation, trade and environmental policies. They do so to avoid lowest common-denominator outcomes in areas where they desire more ambitious international policies, and to motivate or coerce other countries to shoulder a part of the burden associated with problem solving. This article explores whether and how such unilateralism affects public opinion in other countries, arguing that such analysis can point to external constraints on unilateralism and is worthwhile also for normative reasons. Empirically, we examine the effect of a major unilateral European Union (EU) climate policy initiative, which regulates emissions from aircraft, on public opinion in India and the United States, the two largest democracies outside the EU. Based on survey experiments, we study the effects of cost and sovereignty considerations on people’s evaluation of the EU’s new policy. The results show that both types of concern play a significant role and may act as a constraint on unilateral European climate policy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Knowledge of climate change vulnerability and impacts is a prerequisite for formulating locally relevant climate change adaptation policies. A participatory approach has been used in this study to determine climate change vulnerability, impacts and adaptation aspects for the Kangsabati River basin, India. The study approach involved engaging with stakeholders representing state (sub-national), district and community levels, through an interactive brainstorming method, to understand stakeholder perceptions regarding (a) local characteristics which influence vulnerability, (b) climate change impacts and (c) relevant adaptation options. The study reveals that vulnerability varies across upstream, midstream and downstream sections of the river basin. Suggested adaptation options, in this predominantly agricultural basin, are found to be applicable across spatial scales. Stakeholder perceptions, regarding vulnerability and impacts, vary with the level of interaction, academic background and type of experience. Interaction confirms the notion that stakeholders have inherent knowledge regarding adaptation, reveals their preferences and ability to think unconventionally. We discuss limitations of the approach while demonstrating its ability to deliver locally relevant and acceptable adaptation options, which could facilitate implementation. We conclude that engaging stakeholders at multiple levels was highly effective in assessing locally relevant aspects of climate change vulnerability, impacts and applicable adaptation options in the Kangsabati River basin. Based on this assessment, a sub-basin scale is recommended for evaluating these aspects, especially for water resources and agricultural systems, through multi-level stakeholder input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy initiatives in India, such as the Social Forestry Program and later the Joint Forest Management, were introduced for their co-benefits, including forest protection, employment opportunities, and added income for communities living in and around the forests. The evolution of these forest policies is critically reviewed. It is argued that India is perfectly positioned to benefit from climate change mitigation efforts, due to a rich, albeit chequered, history in forest management. National forestry policies are examined to assess how they can complement international climate change mitigation instruments, such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the more recent Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD or REDD+ with conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks) and aid national sustainable development objectives. There is a need to heed the experiences from India's evolving forest policies, particularly those concerning land tenure and resource rights, which lack specificity within international mechanisms. The active engagement of rural communities must be integral to any programmes that make any claim to development and to environmental integrity as a whole. Policy relevance India's forestry programmes are examined for their effectiveness in informing international initiatives such as the CDM and REDD+. Forestry policies in India can evolve to complement international climate mitigation tools. By examining current and historical forest legislation, and their subsequent impacts, it is shown how communities can sustain their system of forest management and retain/obtain rights to land and resources under the CDM and REDD+. Looking for such synergies within existing national policies to implement newer international initiatives can greatly facilitate and increase the momentum of global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combating global climate change and meeting the ever-rising energy demands of the world are concerns that have occupied researchers all around the globe. Adding to this dilemma is the ever-increasing population, which has created enormous stress on our fragile planet. Out of this, the contribution of the agricultural sector was nearly 10%. One promising approach to lowering GHGs (greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere is biochar. Biochar can be produced from agricultural residues available on the farm for long-term storage of carbon in soil. However, there are still a number of uncertainties associated with the environmental and economic performance of different biochar production pathways. It has been stated that obstacles such as technology costs, system operation and maintenance, feedstock availability, and biochar handling may stall rapid adoption of biochar production systems. This is particularly true for developing nations like India, wherein the challenges associated with the production of biochar for environmental usage are many fold. The complexity and heterogeneity of woodfuel-related issues in India present policy makers with major challenges. Hence, it becomes important to understand the extent to which the production strategies for biochar production and biochar as a means of long-term sequestration can be subject to policy making, and the priorities which would drive these policies in these tropical countries. This research addresses mitigation and adaptation technology of biochar by identifying and recommending appropriate policies for successful adoption of biochar projects at the end user interface. This study also highlights the challenges related to biochar/charcoal production in a developing country like India. The existing policies related to different biochar production strategies already in place were evaluated and critiqued, and the viability of these policies in order to carry out the successful adoption of these biochar systems as an important tool for GHG abatement was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India, which is ‘ground zero’ for climate change, has decided to reduce its carbon intensity, yet an important element of environmental efficiency neglected by India’s climate plan is the very way India designs itself. India’s recent development has focused not on ‘cities’ but on ‘metropolitan regions’ that include suburbs and exurbs. Such low-density growth increases oil consumption for car usage while neglecting the high-density based informal economy that is a source of India’s economic vitality and sustainable innovation. One important contribution of this economy is a vast recycling industry in which discarded materials are reprocessed, reused and returned to the market, effectively saving carbon space. An important way forward would be to integrate the informal sector into planning, by encouraging medium-density growth enabled by comfortable and efficient mass transit, following northern European rather than American planning patterns. Since environmental shifts may be inevitable, pre-emptive political and resource management arrangements must play a central role in India’s climate change adaptation plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Adaptation to climate change requires that the population at risk and decision makers in various sectors become aware of the possible detrimental impacts in order to take whatever action is needed, especially in highly vulnerable countries and regions. In order to assess the climate change and impact awareness in a particularly vulnerable area - the Indian city Hyderabad, located within a semiarid region - we wanted to learn more about the local climate discourse, in particular the daily newspaper coverage of climate change and weather extremes. Methodology/approach - After having looked at the Indian climate change discourse (CCD) in general, based on literature review, we were studying the local public CCD, based on the in-depth analysis of two English language daily newspapers, and three Telugu (the dominant local language) daily newspapers, covering the period of 2008-2009. This qualitative and quantitative analysis was completed by two expert interviews with local journalists. Findings - We find that the more recent Indian CCD has shifted if compared to the dominant argumentation pattern of the period before, as reported in other analyses. While the former discourse was characterized by the scheme "the poor/developing countries suffer from anthropogenic climate change caused by the industrialized countries," the recent Indian CCD has become more differentiated, taking into account both impacts elsewhere, and, most notably, conceding a (limited) responsibility of countries like India. On a local level, while reports on weather extremes are very common, we find that local newspapers of Hyderabad do not provide a link between these extreme events and (global) climate change. Research limitations - Our discourse analysis could only cover a short time period of a local CCD, leaving open the questions of (a) its further development, and (b) how things might stand in other places in India. Furthermore it would be necessary to complement our study by analyses of the impact of mass media reporting on people's attitudes and behavior. Originality/value of paper - Given the importance of public participation in adaptation measures, it is crucial to know if and how the wider public and the majority of the nonexpert public administration (which needs to be involved) understands the causes, potential impacts, and possible adaptive action in the face of climate change. This chapter provides a necessary (though not sufficient) element for that assessment. The findings can help to identify weaknesses, and thus to give hints how to improve the adaptive capacity in places like Hyderabad (India). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This work offers an investigation of the planning and implementation of climate-adaptation and vulnerability-reduction strategies in coastal mega-cities of the Global South, utilizing Kolkata, India, as a case study. This research is designed to identify factors that aid the implementation of climate-centered action in resource-constrained environments of developing countries and provide a set of policy guidelines reflecting best practices. Methodology/approach - This work draws principally upon analysis of semi structured field interviews conducted in Kolkata, India, during December 2010 and January 2011. The findings are informed by additional data sources as well, including field observations, informal dialogues and meetings, and a review of secondary literature. Findings - This work identifies several key success factors, including organizational restructuring, resource redistribution, technological innovation, use of external consultants, coupling of climate and development projects, and integration of climate approaches into infrastructure projects. Research limitations - This research draws upon Kolkata as a case study; thus the work's broader applicability and utility depend on the similarities between the situation in Kolkata and that of other urban areas. As a local study, this work may also offer fewer insights for regional and national policy. Originality and value - This work fills a timely, unmet need for a greater understanding of climate-adaptation action in the context of cities of the developing world. The extensive use of personal interviews provides unique insights into the minds of planning officiais and professionals and draws upon their practical experience to draw lessons for a wide range of similar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's approach to climate change has shifted dramatically in the span of a few years. Not only has India developed a comprehensive climate change program domestically, it has adopted a new stance in the international negotiations that has earned it the reputation of being a 'deal maker'. This dramatic, and to many unexpected, shift in India's climate change strategy can be understood if seen in the context of India's economic and development aspirations and the changes occurring in the larger geopolitical landscape. Climate change, due to its multi-faceted nature, cuts across a spectrum of issues and India can benefit both domestically and internationally by addressing it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper contributes by analyzing nonlinear and complex integration of policies in framing a water management problem in a case study hamlet in the Indian Himalayas. It reveals that policies are never implemented, but integrated through the negotiation with other policies and socio-cultural settings in (re)shaping water resources management. It demonstrates the incremental and cumulative integration of policies that are formulated from different governance arrangements in (mis)managing water. In such a regime, the paper calls for statutory public actors to lay-out broad principles in their policy statements that allow multiple actors to debate and negotiate diverse alternatives in order to make the policy-making process integrative, adaptive, and dynamic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research has now been conducted into the representation of climate change in the media. Specifically, the communication of climate change from scientists and policy-makers to the public via the mass media has been a subject of major interest because of its implications for creating national variation in public understanding of a global environmental issue. However, to date, no study has assessed the situation in India. As one of the major emerging economies, and so one of the major greenhouse gas emitters, India is a key actor in the climate change story. This study analyses the four major, national circulation English-language newspapers to quantify and qualify the frames through which climate change is represented in India. The results strongly contrast with previous studies from developed countries; by framing climate change along a ‘risk-responsibility divide’, the Indian national press set up a strongly nationalistic position on climate change that divides the issue along both developmental and postcolonial lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the barriers to an effective response to climate change faced by governments and institutions. Developments to prevent environmental degradation in countries including Brazil, China, and India are considered. It is stated that governments and corporations face a challenge in reconciling keeping the costs of producing goods and services low and doing so in an environmentally conscious manner. It is suggested that the involvement and cooperation of these influential bodies is necessary to ensure effective environmental protection.

What is the preparedness of the Indian insurance industry to deal with the growing frequency and severity of natural disasters? We examine this question and argue that the continuation of present practices is not sufficient to address the challenges posed by climate change. The potential impact of climate change on the Indian economy can be severe, given the country's history of disaster losses, which is compounded by growth in population concentrations and burgeoning development in coastal and flood-prone areas. Targeted strategies are needed to deal with the rising costs of claims caused by climate change in a fledging Indian insurance market. The key challenges are to improve penetration of the available insurance products and to develop innovative delivery mechanisms to improve the access of the most vulnerable communities. Insurance is only a part of the solution, and must be combined with other measures that foster genuine preparedness and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) policy of India, provides estimates of potential for a few sectors, and voices India's concern about the CDM. In particular it covers the problems of determining CDM baseline, transaction costs, and risks that have to be borne by the developing countries and determining a fair price for carbon dioxide (CO2). It argues for more effective technology transfer and points out that, if interpreted incorrectly, CDM rules can discourage climate-friendly policies in developing countries. It suggests that the developing countries should learn how to play the CDM game in order to secure better deals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines India's policies on climatic changes. Key issues of interest; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications on the energy industries and environmental protection.

The article examines the concept of the Montreal Protocol on the Ozone between India and China. It discusses the environmental bargaining agreement of the two industrialized countries to transfer both monetary and technological resources to develop ozone-friendly policies. It highlights the nature of the bargaining idea regarding the impact of the protocol to the ozone, climate change and biodiversity. According to the author, the international institutions have significant role in facilitating the mutual advantages of the said bargain.

The author focuses on the role played by Indian television media in disseminating scientific information to the people related to climatic changes. He states that the reporting on the changes regarding climate will help in shaping climatic adaptation and mitigation actions. He mentions the need of increase in coverage by need on topic of climate change for engaging more people in the process.