SO 4259 (E) Constitution of the Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA) under sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986): Extraordinary, PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)

EXTRAORDINARY PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 3754] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2020/AGRAHAYANA 6, 1942 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 27th November, 2020 S.O. 4259(E).—Whereas, India is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the objective of the Convention is to achieve stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system; And whereas, India has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and constituted the National CDM Authority (NCDMA) in 2003; And whereas, India has ratified the Paris Agreement to enhance the implementation of the Convention in accordance with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances; And whereas, India has submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2015 for implementation of the Paris Agreement in the post-2020 period; the NDC has eight goals including three quantitative goals viz. reduction in the emissions intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level; achieving about 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030; and creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030; And whereas, implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement dealing with market, non-market and voluntary approaches, necessitate an inter-ministerial committee to supersede the National CDM Authority (NCDMA) constituted under the Kyoto Protocol; And whereas, Paris Agreement envisages an ‘enhanced transparency framework’ with new modalities, procedures and guidelines (MPG) for the post-2020 period which will supersede the existing Monitoring, Review and Verification (MRV) system; And whereas, Paris Agreement establishes process of ‘Global Stocktake’ to periodically take stock of the implementation of this Agreement and assess the collective progress towards achieving the purpose of this Agreement and its long-term goals every five years with first in 2023; And whereas, the Central Government considers it necessary and expedient to constitute an Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA) for the purpose of ensuring a coordinated response on climate change matters that protects the country’s interests and ensures that India is on track towards meeting its climate change obligations under the Paris Agreement including its submitted NDCs. Now, therefore in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986), the Central Government hereby constitutes the ‘Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA)’ with the following composition:- Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Chairperson; 3 Additional Director General (Forest), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Member; 4. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance Member; 5. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Member; 6. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology Member; 7. Joint Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Member; 8. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti Member; 9. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power Member; 10. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences Member; 11. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Member; 12. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Member; 13. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development Member; 14. Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs Member; 15. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry Member; 16. Joint Secretary level Officer, NITI Aayog Member; 17. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Member Secretary. 2. The Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA) shall exercise and perform the following functions, namely:- (i) take measures with respect to matters referred to in the clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of sub- section (2) of section 3 of the aforesaid Act and may issue directions under section 5 thereof; (ii) coordinate communication and reporting of NDCs to UNFCCC; (iii) define responsibilities of concerned ministries for achieving India’s NDC goals and receive periodic information updates to monitor, review and revisit climate goals to fulfill the requirements of the Paris Agreement; (iv) develop policies and programmes, if required, to make India’s domestic climate actions compliant with its international obligations; (v) develop Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) protocol for National Inventory Management System (NIMS) as per the requirements under the enhanced Transparency Framework of Paris Agreement; (vi) coordinate communication of National Communications, Biennial Update Reports and Biennial Transparency Reports to UNFCCC; (vii) function as a National Authority to regulate carbon markets in India, under Article 6.2, Article 6.4 and Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement in the post-2020 period; (viii) formulate guidelines for consideration of projects or activities under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement; (ix) issue guidelines on carbon pricing, market mechanism, and similar other instruments that have a bearing on climate change and NDCs; (x) coordinate submission of Adaptation Communication as required under the Paris Agreement; (xi) identify evolving requirements and propose mechanisms to facilitate achievement of India’s obligations in a cost-effective manner; (xii) provide guidance to NDCs and its accounting for domestic, bilateral and multilateral activities or projects and ensure that these are compliant with Cabinet decisions and India’s position in international climate change negotiations; (xiii) take note of the private sector’s contributions for combating climate change and provide guidance to help align their actions with domestic priorities; (xiv) commission and recommend independent research and analytical studies and plan capacity building and training activities on the above issues; (xv) seek guidance from and provide inputs to the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change (PMCCC); and (xvi) any other matter, as required under UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement. 3. The Member-Secretary of AIPA shall be responsible for day-to-day activities of the Committee including constituting sub-group to coordinate activities and carry out detailed examination of climate change related issues through experts or by consulting organizations for consideration by the aforesaid Authority or to engage or hire any consultant or specialist on contract basis on such remuneration as may be approved by the Central Government. 4. The Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA) shall have power: (a) to invite officials and experts from the Government, financial institutions, universities, academic institutions, consultancy organisations, non-Governmental organisations, civil society, legal profession, industry and commerce, as it may deem necessary for technical and professional inputs and may co-opt other members depending upon need; (b) to interact with concerned authorities, institutions, individual stakeholders for matters relating to climate change; (c) to take up any environmental or sustainable development issues pertaining to climate change as may be referred to it by the Central Government, and (d) to provide recommendations to the Central Government on matters related to climate change. 5. The Apex Committee for Implementation of Paris Agreement (AIPA) shall furnish report about its activity at least once in six months to the Central Government. RICHA SHARMA, Jt. Secy. (Climate Change) and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054. MANOJ KUMAR VERMA