In the backdrop of 4th assessment report of IPCC (2007) and to safeguard economic growth against the threat of climate change, PM’s Council on Climate Change introduced NAPCC (2008), which also mandated State Action Plans. These missions are in line with SDG (Goal 7, 11, 12, 13), Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and India’s commitments at Paris.

Key Successes:

• Played a key role in mainstreaming mitigation and adaptation measures across the policy agenda of the government.
• Introduction of innovative market-based mechanisms and policies – PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) Scheme, Solar Rooftop Investment Program, PM Ujjwala Yojana and Street Lighting Program.
• Establishment of databases in public domain such as Water Resource Information System (WRIS).
• Development of institutions and partnerships at both national and international levels – E.g. India- led International Solar Alliance.
• Mission specific successes -
  National Solar Mission - Solar tariff achieved grid parity. Initiatives - Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects, Green Energy Corridor
  National Mission on Sustainable Habitat - Adoption of Energy Conservation Building Code, Programs like AMRUT, Smart Cities etc. to promote sustainable urbanization.

Criticism

Even though the NAPCC has been in existence for a decade, most missions have lagged behind in achieving their targets.

1. Structural weaknesses - NAPCC is a collection of independent plans, lacking an integrated vision. Several ongoing schemes of the government such as AMRUT are aligned with the mission objectives, but no convergence is attempted.
2. Some missions are too broad, have long gestational periods (e.g. Green India Mission) and lack quantifiable targets, hampering their progress.
3. Low R&D, lack of skilled manpower and expertise has slowed missions like NMSKCC, NMSA, NMSHE.
4. Lack of efficient functional decentralization is compounded by poor capacity building at the state/local level.
5. Lack of market-based investments resulting in sole dependence on limited budgetary resources.
6. Monitoring systems for some missions are either ineffective or absent due to the cross-cutting nature of missions. Progress has to be reported to the PM’s Council on Climate Change, but the council has met only once since its reconstitution.
7. Other impediments – delays in project clearance, conflicting policy issues (e.g. delays in renegotiation of power purchase agreements).

Most missions have seen slow progress. However, there are plans for 4 new sector-specific missions – Wind, Waste-to-Energy, Health and Coastal Mission. The criticism provides an opportunity for NAPCC 2.0 and pooling indigenous and global capabilities to cope with climate change.