‘Apex Committee for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (AIPA)’

Published: 7th Dec, 2020

In a latest development, the Government of India has constituted the Apex Committee for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (AIPA).

Context

In a latest development, the Government of India has constituted the Apex Committee for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (AIPA).

About

The AIPA also has the responsibility of regularly communicating and reporting the NDCs to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- India is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Composition: The AIPA committee constitutes a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and 15 other members from different ministries:
- Chairperson: Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
- Vice Chairperson: Additional secretary, MoEFCC
The AIPA will also act as a national authority for the regulation of carbon markets in India under the Article 6.2, Article 6.4 and Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement.

What is Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreementis a landmark environmental accord that was adopted by nearly every nation in 2015 to address climate change and its negative impacts.
The deal aims to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to limit the global temperature increasein this century to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, while pursuing means to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees.
The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to put forward their best efforts through “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead.

Nationally Determined Contributions

NDCs are the accounts of the voluntary efforts to be made by countries that are a part of the Paris Agreement, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of anthropogenic climate change.
The three quantitative goals in the Indian NDCs are:
- A 33-35 per cent reduction in the gross domestic product emissions intensity by 2030 from 2005 levels
- A 40 per cent share of non-fossil fuel based electricity by 2030
- Creating a carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide through afforestation programmes
Apart from these, there are five other non-quantitive goals in the Indian NDCs.
The NDCs are to be implemented in the post-2020 period.
India had submitted its NDCs in 2015.
Now, the AIPA, with its 17 members, has the responsibility of formulating policies and programmes for implementing them.

What is the purpose of the Committee?

To ensure a coordinated response on climate change matters that protects the country’s interests
To ensure that India is on track towards meeting its climate change obligations under the Paris Agreement including its submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)”.
To define the responsibilities of the government ministries that would be crucial in achieving the country’s climate change mitigation and adaptation goals and submit a report every six months.
To develop policies and programmes, if required, to make India’s domestic climate actions compliant with its international obligations.

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