lR;eso t;rs - Ministry of Environment and Forests

The contribution of India to the cumulative global CO emissions
2
is only 5 per cent (Figure 3.1.1). Thus historically, and at present,
India's share in the carbon stock in the atmosphere is relatively
very small in terms of per capita emissions. India's per capita
carbon emissions average one-twentieth of those of the US and
76
CH 4
31%
N O
2
4%
STATE-WISE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE
PHYSICAL IMPACT
(a)
Climate changes characterized as global warming are leading to
large-scale irreversible effects at continental and global scales.
The likelihood, magnitude, and timing is observed to be
increasing and accelerating. Many projected consequences of
global warming once thought controversial, are now being
observed.
The IPCC reports that the effects of global warming will be
mixed across regions. For smaller values of warming (1 to 3°C),
changes are expected to produce net benefits in some regions and
for some activities, and net costs for others. Greater warming
may produce net costs in all regions. Developing countries are
vulnerable to reduced economic growth as a result of global
warming.
Most of the consequences of global warming would result from
physical changes like sea level rise, higher local temperatures,
and changes in rainfall patterns, but synergistic effects such as
the release of methane hydrates or clathrates and forests and
species die-off may cause many unforeseen impacts such as a
decrease in the levels of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere. Most
scientists believe that the warming of the climate will lead to
more extreme weather patterns such as:
�Heat Spells: Extreme temperatures and heat spells have
already become common over Northern India, often causing
human fatalities. In 1998 alone, 650 deaths occurred in Orissa
due to heat waves.
Figure 3.1.2 : Distribution of GHG Emissions from India
CO 2
65%
State Of Environment Report-2009
one-tenth of most countries in Western Europe and Japan.
Sectoral distribution shows that the highest CO equivalent
2
emission contribution is from the energy sector (61 per cent)
(Figure 3.1.2).
Industrial
Process
8%
Agriculture
28%
Waste
2% LULUCF
1%
(a) Gas by Gas Emission Distribution (b) Sectoral Distribution of CO 2 Equivalent Emissions
Source: India's Initial National Communication to UNFCCC, 2004
(b)
Energy
61%
�Storms/Cyclones: India's 7,517 km coastline will be
particularly hard-hit by storm surges and sea-level rise
displacing millions, flooding low-lying areas, and damaging
economic assets and infrastructure. The super-cyclone of 1999
wreaked havoc in Orissa, knocking decades off its development
and claiming more than 30,000 human lives (Figure 3.1.3).
Loss of littoral rain forest in Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
after Tsunami