Climate change impacts in Rajasthan: A mitigation approach

Abstract

Climate change is a global challenge with diverse implications at the national and subnational levels, through impacts on various sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forestry and biodiversity, human health, energy and infrastructure. Such diverse impacts require a range of strategies to be deployed for an effective response and for better preparedness towards climate change. There is a need to achieve synergy between national priorities and state-specific strategies, given that in many cases the actions being discussed are State subjects and have to be implemented in the States. While adaptation by its very nature is localized in action, mitigation actions taken at the state level can tap on the opportunities that the State can benefit from or follow a co-benefits approach simultaneously buttressing national mitigation efforts. In this context, it becomes crucial to prepare State level action plans on climate change in order to address current and future climate risks and tap on potential opportunities through a diverse set of response strategies. The first step towards preparation of a detailed State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) is to identify state-specific risks and impacts and opportunities in the context of climate change. Thereafter, prioritize areas for research and policy action in response to identified current and future vulnerabilities and projected impacts of climate change. Effective policy design could be laid by juxtaposing identified strategies with national priorities and missions.