Pranab Mukherjee addresses AMU students, speaks of climate concerns

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday called upon the international community to view the issue of climate change not just as a threat but also as a unique opportunity to work together.

India, as a developing country with climate vulnerability, has an important stake in the evolution of equitable and multilateral response to climate change, the President said after inaugurating the 37th Indian Social Science Congress at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

"Climate change is a threat but also a unique opportunity to work together. As a developing country on the frontlines of climate vulnerability, India has a vital stake in the evolution of a successful, rule-based, equitable and multilateral response to climate change," he said.

Mukherjee said the country has made a promising start at the domestic level with the launch of the 'National Action Plan on Climate Change' (NAPCC).

"The Action Plan sets out a comprehensive response to climate change in the overall context of development, identifying measures that promote our development objectives while also yielding co-benefits for addressing climate change effectively. "The eight missions under the Action Plan cover both adaptation and mitigation, in addition to scientific research. India intends to reduce the emissions intensity of our GDP by 20-25 per cent by the year 2020 taking 2005 as the reference level," he said.

Highlighting the need for ensuring growth in harmony with nature, he said the government has put in place institutional arrangements and mechanisms to promote policy development and stakeholder engagement on sustainable management of commons.

Mukherjee said setting up of the National Green Tribunal was a clear pointer to the fact that India had set out a comprehensive response to climate change in the overall context of development.

"The National Green Tribunal set up under the NGT Act, 2010 provides for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources," he said.

The theme for 37th Social Science Congress was 'Building an Ecologically Sustainable Society'. The President also inaugurated a social science cyber library on the occasion.