Adaptation to Climate Change in India : A study of Union budgets

The implications of climate change are affecting many regions in the world; India is particularly vulnerable to the damaging, adverse effects of greenhouse emissions. This working paper is a collaborative study produced by Oxfam India and the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (a policy research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi). It is a critical analysis of the Government of India’s spending (Union Budget) regarding climate change related disasters in India in the period between fiscal years 2006-07 and 2009-10. The report also provides an analysis of different climate change related reports. The livelihoods of most people in India depend on ‘climate-sensitive’ sectors (i.e. farming, fishing and forestry) so this paper identifies the planning and investment areas the Government should focus on in order to prevent further development setbacks on local, national and global scales. These areas include: crop improvement, drought proofing, forestry, water, coastal regions, health, risk financing, and disaster management.