Climate Change and Global WarmingClimate Change and Global Warming

Understanding the physical drivers of global temperature rise, radiative forcing, and greenhouse gas potentials.

• Greenhouse Effect Basics: Atmospheric gases trap long-wave infrared radiation reflected from the Earth's surface, keeping the planet habitable with an average temperature of ~15°C.
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Primary anthropogenic GHG contributing ~60% to global warming, originating mainly from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.
• Methane (CH4) Potency: Has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) 28-36 times higher than CO2 over a 100-year period; emitted from paddy fields, enteric fermentation in livestock, and landfills.
• Nitrous Oxide (N2O) & Fluorinated Gases: N2O has a GWP ~265-298 times that of CO2, primarily from agricultural synthetic fertilizers. Fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6) have extremely high GWPs and long atmospheric lifetimes.
• Global Warming Potential (GWP) Concept: Index measuring how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of CO2.

Key global legal frameworks, financing mechanisms, and mitigation pledges under the United Nations.

• UNFCCC Framework: Adopted in 1992 at Rio Earth Summit, entered into force in 1994. Aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a safe level. Secretariat located in Bonn, Germany.
• Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms: Introduced market-based flexible mechanisms: Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI), and International Emissions Trading (IET).
• Paris Agreement (2015): Replaced Kyoto post-2020. Introduced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) where each country sets its own emission reduction targets without legally binding top-down quotas.
• Kigali Amendment (2016): Legally binding amendment to the Montreal Protocol to phase down production and consumption of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by more than 80% over the next 30 years.
• Loss and Damage Fund: Operationalized at COP 27 (Sharm el-Sheikh) and funded heavily at COP 28 (Dubai) to assist vulnerable developing countries suffering severe climate impacts.

National missions, Panchamrit targets, and institutional frameworks driving India's low-carbon transition.

• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Launched in 2008 by the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change, comprising 8 core national missions including solar, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, and water.
• India's Panchamrit Targets (COP 26): 1) Reach 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030; 2) 50% energy from renewables by 2030; 3) Reduce total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030; 4) Reduce carbon intensity of economy by 45% by 2030; 5) Achieve Net-Zero by 2070.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA): Jointly launched by India and France at COP 21 in Paris (2015), headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. Aims to mobilize over USD 1000 billion of investments for solar energy by 2030.
• National Mission for a Green India: One of the 8 NAPCC missions aimed at protecting, restoring, and enhancing India's forest cover and responding to climate change through afforestation on 10 million hectares.

Statutory legislation enacted for the prevention and control of air, water, and environmental degradation.

• The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Provides for protection of wild animals, birds, and plants with 6 schedules. Amended significantly in 2022 to align with CITES mandates.
• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974: First comprehensive environmental legislation in India. Established Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: Aimed to combat air pollution, empowering CPCB and SPCBs to set emission standards for stationary and mobile sources.
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Enacted in the aftermath of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy under Article 252 of the Constitution. Gives sweeping powers to the Central Government to coordinate environmental protection.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT) Act, 2010: Specialized body set up for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and natural resources.