Description

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Picture Courtesy: THE HINDU

Context

Tamil Nadu's approach to climate action and biodiversity conservation, emphasizing ground-level policy implementation, community involvement, and demonstrable outcomes, serves as an exemplary model for other states.

Tamil Nadu's Sub-State Climate Action

Tamil Nadu's geography and economy make it susceptible to climate change impacts.

Coastal Risks: The state's 1,076 km coastline faces sea-level rise, more frequent and intense cyclones, and coastal erosion.
Urban Flooding: Chennai and other major urban centers are at high risk of severe flooding from extreme rainfall and surface water.
Water Stress: Tamil Nadu faces severe water scarcity, with a per capita water availability of just 900 cubic meters—less than half the national average of 2,200 cubic meters—exacerbated by erratic monsoons.
Sectoral Impacts: Key sectors like agriculture, fisheries, and energy are directly threatened by heatwaves, droughts, and extreme weather events.

The Pillars of Tamil Nadu's Climate Action

Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission (TNCCM)

Data-Driven Strategy: The state has released a detailed Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory, a first for any Indian state.
Renewable Energy Push: Tamil Nadu aims to source 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.
Initiatives: The mission drives the adoption of e-vehicles, promotes energy efficiency, and implements local solutions like the Climate-Smart Villages program to build grassroots resilience.

Green Tamil Nadu Mission (GTM)

The GTM aims to expand the state's forest and tree cover from the current 23.8% to the nationally mandated 33% of its geographical area over ten years, as a carbon sequestration effort.

Ambitious Targets: The mission plans to plant 265 crore seedlings of native species across diverse landscapes, including farmlands, urban areas, and degraded forests.

Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission

Goals: The mission aims to identify, map, and ecologically restore 100 wetlands over five years, integrating livelihood options for local communities.
The State now hosts 20 Ramsar-designated wetlands, and has ensured that 30% of its total land area is protected.

Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE)

It focuses on preventing sea erosion, enhancing coastal biodiversity (mangroves, coral reefs), reducing marine plastic pollution, and promoting a sustainable blue economy.
Blue Carbon Agency: A special purpose vehicle, the Tamil Nadu Blue Carbon Agency, has been established under this mission to manage projects and explore carbon credit frameworks for coastal ecosystems.

The way forward involves strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks, enhancing participatory governance by making climate plans more accessible to the public, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure like "sponge parks" in urban areas.

Source: THE HINDU

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Analyze the effectiveness of Tamil Nadu's climate action model, particularly its focus on renewable energy and coastal resilience, as a replicable strategy for other Indian states. 150 words

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A climate action model serves as a strategic framework or plan for societies, governments, and businesses to address climate change. It outlines specific policies and actions for both reducing emissions (mitigation) and preparing for unavoidable climate impacts (adaptation).

The primary goal is to guide decision-making to limit global warming to agreed-upon targets, such as the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement, while also building resilience in human and natural systems to current and future climate hazards.

Mitigation involves actions that reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases, such as switching to renewable energy. Adaptation involves adjustments in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate changes to reduce harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.