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Accumulation of trace gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in the
atmosphere, caused mainly due to anthropogenic activities such as burning of fossil fuels,
is believed to be altering the earth’s climate system. The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) in its fourth assessment report observed that “warming of climate
system is now unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global
average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global
seal level” (Soloman et al., 2007). India has a reason to be concerned about climate change,
as a vast population depends on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, forestry and fishery
for their livelihood. The adverse impact of climate change in the form of decline in rainfall
and rise in temperature has resulted in increased severity of livelihood issues in the country.
Climate change would represent additional stress on the ecological and socioeconomic
systems that are already under tremendous pressure due to rapid industrialization,
urbanization and economic development.
Climate change is one of the most important global environmental challenges facing
humanity with implications for food production, natural ecosystems, freshwater supply,
health, etc. According to the latest scientific assessment, the earth’s climate system has
demonstrably changed on both global and regional scales since the pre-industrial era.
Further, evidence shows that most of the warming (of 0.1 oC per decade), observed over the
last 50 years, is attributable to human activities (IPCC, 2001a and 2001b).
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